January 30, 2004

THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA WITNESSES HUGE ACHIEVEMENTS AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS. 8 UNIVERSITIES WITH A TOTAL OF 493 THOUSAND STUDENTS. 318 PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HOSPITALS EMPLOY 31,502 DOCTORS AND 68,000 NURSING STAFF. 3381 FACTORIES WITH A CAPITAL OF SR 239 BILLION AND 310,000 WORKERS. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia observed on Monday September 23, its 72nd National Day Anniversary. Seventy-two years ago, the late King Abdul Aziz God Bless his soul announced the unification of the Kingdom and changed its name to "the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia" after 32 years of determined struggle for realizing this great goal. He unified the country on the basis of the Holy Quran and Sunnah (the Prophet's teachings). The entity established by King Abdul Aziz has proved that it is capable of overcoming all difficulties and obstacles with the grace of the Almighty God. The unification of the country paved the way for the emergence of this great entity as well as for enhancing the pillars of security and stability in the Arabian Peninsula. The first Saudi state was established in 1157 H when Imam Mohammed Ibn Saud announced support to the call of Sheikh Mohammed Abdul Wahab for a proper Islamic life. In 1240 H, the Second Saudi State was established by Imam Turki Ibn Abdullah Ibn Mohammed Ibn Saud, but for certain internal reasons the second Saudi state collapsed in 1308 H. In 1319 H, King Abdul Aziz began his successful mission to unify the country. By taking over Riyadh in Shawal, 1319 H, King Abdul Aziz laid the foundation stone for this great entity and embarked on the unification of the scattered parts of the Arabian Peninsula. King Abdul Aziz was determined to hold high the banner of Islam and to spread the creed of monotheism and to restore the glories of the past. With the unification of the Kingdom, King Abdul Aziz strengthened the pillars of security and stability and paved the way for development and progress. Following the unification of the Kingdom, King Abdul Aziz gave his utmost attention to the Arab and Muslim causes, notably the Palestinian cause. After the death of King Abdul Aziz, his sons followed in his footsteps. In the current era of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Kingdom has accomplished remarkable development and achievements in various sectors. Thanks to God, the Kingdom has made great strides in the agricultural, industrial and social spheres. Realizing the significant role of the Two Holy Mosques, the Kingdom has spent more than SR70 billion on the expansion projects at the Two Holy Mosques, and provided the increasing numbers of pilgrims with the required services and facilities. In line with the policy formulated by King Abdul Aziz, the Kingdom has been giving utmost attention to the cause of Palestine, notably the cause of Al-Quds, as well as to all other Arab causes and thanks to the Kingdom's rational and wise policy, this policy has yielded positive results at the Gulf, Arab and Islamic arenas. Moreover, the Kingdom has been positively contributing to the development of the Arab societies by providing them with the required material assistance and at the Islamic and intentional levels, the Kingdom has been positively shouldering its responsibility. The Kingdom has also been contributing to world peace and global stability and advocating international cooperation. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has also witnessed great developmental achievements comprising infrastructure and various sectors in services and production. The figures and statistics demonstrate the commitment of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz and his Entrusted Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz to the homeland and its citizens. The statistics show as well the advanced level and success achieved by the Kingdom in various sectors. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has made steady progress in the field of higher education. The number of students was more than five million, as well as 393,000 teachers at various levels of education for the year 1420/1421 H. Statistics showed that there were 493,000 male and female students and 20,000 members of teaching staff at eight universities which are located in different parts of the country, teachers training colleges and technical and health colleges. The number of university colleges now amounts to 72. As many as 16 Saudi academies abroad are catering to the educational needs of Saudi, Arab and Muslim students around the world. A statistical report published recently by the General Directorate of Saudi schools abroad for the academic year 1420/1421H,disclosed that the number of students at various educational levels reached 5,334 who are assisted in their educational pursuit by 632 teachers. The report said these schools and academies are located in the United States of America, Britain, Germany, Russia, France, Spain, Indonesia, Malaysia, Austria, Turkey, Morocco and Djibouti. In the report, the General Directorate highlighted the Kingdom's keenness to assist Saudi citizens who have been sent abroad by bearing the cost of their studies charged to them by 87 schools in 43 countries. In the Health sector, there were 318 public and private hospitals comprising 45,919 beds and 1,766 health centres in the year 1420H. The number of doctors was 31,502 and the number of nursing staff was 68,000. Arrangements are currently underway to implement projects of a number of new governmental hospitals like King Fahd Medical City in Riyadh. Moreover, work is also in progress to carry out the project of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz to build 2000 health centers throughout the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Due to the importance of training the medical cadres, the Ministry of Health has established 24 health institutes and 13 health colleges, including six health colleges for girls. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has made big strides in the field of medical services, and has become a specialist center for treatment of several diseases, notably heart and liver diseases. In addition, successful heart and liver transplant operations are now conducted in Saudi hospitals The Kingdom has set up a specialist center for organ transplantation, which works in coordination with various hospitals. In the transportation sector, the length of road network reached 152,000 Kms in 1420H. The seaports play a vital role in Kingdom's exports and imports. They handled nearly 1.4 billion tons of goods during the last 24 years. These seaports have become outlets to approximately 95 percent of the Kingdom's exports and imports. The general organization of the seaports said in its report for the year 1419/1420h that the kingdom has 8 seaports comprising 83piers that can receive the largest ships of the world. Statistics showed that there were 25 airports including three international airports. In the Saudi Air Fleet, there are 125 planes and more than 2,000 pilots - among them 900 Saudis. The Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAA) stands as one of the great landmarks of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. SAA began its operation on May 27, 1945 with one DC3 Dakota plane which was received by the late King Abdul Aziz as a gift from the former US President Franklin Roosevelt. Currently, SAA is considered as one of the biggest air fleets in the Middle East and it is one of the best 30 aviation companies at the world level, according to a statement released by the International Air Transport Organization (IATA). The planes of the SAA are characterized by their excellent services and sophisticated equipment. It has now 139 modern planes, and its flights operate to 77 airports including 52 international airports and 25 local airports. Last year, SAA carried about 13.5 million passengers. During the last Hajj season, SAA transported 746,841 pilgrims aboard 3,200 flights from 57 airports around the world. The catering department at SAA extended last year 13.5 million meals for its flights and the flights of the aviation companies working in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In addition to this, SAA has been positively contributing to the service of the society through organizing contests on formative arts and boosting tourism in the country through operating extra flights to the tourism resorts. It has been launching advertising campaigns and issuing booklets for the GCC citizens about the tourism resorts in the country. SAA contributed to the fifth international friendship championship for the cup of Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal, organized this summer in Abha. Despite the Kingdom's vast area and diverse geography, its telecommunications network covers wide areas of its land. A report by Saudi Telecommunications Company said the number of fixed telephone working lines was 3,000,000 by the end of Shaban last year. Mobile phone service covered about 2,289,000 subscribers, pager service about 603,000 subscribers and telex 3,501. The number of public phone lines was 51,752 lines while the number of leased circuits reached 34,609 lines and working international circuits reached 16,990 lines. The number of Saudi telecommunications employees was 23,748 employees and the trainees 17,436. In the electricity sector, the total generating capacity was 21,679 megawatts at the end of 1420h and there were 3.5 million subscribers. In the agricultural sector, the Kingdom produced nearly 2,334,00 tons of grain, 2,600,000 tons of fresh vegetables, 1,150,000 tons of fruits and 650,000 tons of dates in 1997. The numbers of livestock were 790,000 camels, 280,000 cows and 17 million sheep and goats and fish production reached 54,000 tons in 1997. For its part, the Ministry of Agriculture and Water has built 190 dams with a storage capacity of more than 778 million cubic meters of water at a cost of SR 3 billion. Figures showed that there are 27 water desalination stations that produce more than 797 million cubic meters of water. The agricultural area in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has increased many folds over the last two decades as the cultivated area reached more than 4,885,000 hectares in 1418 H. Arable and reclaimable land area increased to about 53 million hectares. The statistics issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Water attribute the development achieved by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the field of agriculture to the wise policy followed by the government led by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz. The policy encourages and supports farmers by providing them with incentives including interest-free soft loans, free agricultural land and purchase of some of their crops at a premium. Agricultural experts and organizations say the experience of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the field of agriculture is unique and successful. In this field, the Kingdom and the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz have gained certificates and medals of appreciation from international agricultural organizations. In the industrial sector as many as 3,381 factories with a capital of SR 239 billion and 310,000 workers at the end of the third quarter of the year 1421H have changed the status of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from an importing to an exporting country, reflecting its enormous industrial growth which has been accomplished in a short period. Official statistics show that the capital investment in these factories exceeded an amount of SR 239 billion. The Kingdom's exports of non-oil products from these national factories are estimated to be worth SR 20 billion. In the financial sector, an amount of more than SR 274 billion in the fiscal year 1420/1421H has been provided by financing institutions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to assist citizens implement projects in various sectors, notably in real estates, trade, agriculture and industry. This assistance, which included grants and interest-free soft loans, was provided by the following financing institutions: the Saudi Arabian Agricultural Bank (SAAB), the Saudi Credit Bank, the Saudi Real Estate Development Fund, the Saudi Industrial Development Fund and the General Investment Fund. As many as 9,813 companies with an invested capital of SR 169.3 billion are engaged in trading practices in the Kingdom. A statistical report of the Ministry of Commerce for the fiscal year 1419/1420 Hsaid there are 116 joint stock companies with an invested capital of SR 87.47 billion. It said the number of the limited liability companies reached 6, 238 with a capital of SR 76.661 billion. On the two Holy cities - Makkah and Madinah - the Kingdom has spent more than SR 70 billion during recent years, including the expansion of the Two Holy Mosques. The number of mosques was more than 70,000 in the year 1419H. King Fahd Complex for Printing the Holy Quran had produced 165 million copies of the Holy Quran and interpretations of its meanings in various languages by the end of Safar 1422H. A report of the complex said out of these copies, as many as 142 million copies of the Holy Quran were distributed throughout the world. In realization of its pioneering role in the service of Islam and Muslims, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia decided to establish the complex. The foundation stone of the complex was laid by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz in Muharram, 1403H. He inaugurated the complex in Safar, 1405 H. The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance undertakes the supervision of the complex. The committees of the complex include the scientific committee, which undertakes the responsibility of revision of the Holy Quran, and the committee of the recorded items. About two million persons have so far visited the complex which constitutes a remarkable Islamic edifice. In line with the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz, the complex has been providing each pilgrim with a set of the publications of the complex including the Holy Quran at the exit points in the Kingdom. In sports, the number of clubs rose to 154 and there were 22 sport associations. Statistics showed that there are 12 clubs with more than 3,000 members in literary and cultural fields. The number of the branches of Riyadh-based Saudi Arabian society for culture and arts has reached eight. Meanwhile the number of the branches of the Makkah-based society for philatelists has amounted to three with about 4, 000 members. In Shaban, 1421H, King Fahd's Cultural Center was inaugurated in Riyadh. The center, built on an area of 105,000 square meters, has been shouldering its responsibility in the service of the literary and cultural movement in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Until today an amount of more than SR280 billion has been provided by financial institutions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to assist citizens implement projects in various sectors, notably in real estate, trade, agriculture and industry. This assistance, which included grants and interest-free soft loans, was provided by the following financing institutions: the Saudi Arabian Agricultural Bank (SAAB), the Saudi Credit Bank, the Saudi Real Estate Development Fund, the Saudi Industrial Development Fund and the General Investment Fund. The Saudi Real Estate Fund: This fund was established in 1395 AH, with a capital of SR250 million. It aims at encouraging citizens to construct buildings for housing and investment. Loans provided by the fund are to be repaid over a period of 25 years. From its inception until 1421 AH the fund provided 451,000 private loans, valued at a total sum of SR118, 379, 000,000. These loans have helped finance the building of 541,000 housing units in various parts of the Kingdom. During the same period, the fund also granted 2,488 investment loans worth SR5, 180,000,000. The fund distributed 21,211 housing units in different cities of the Kingdom. The Saudi Industrial Development Fund: This fund was established in 1394 AH, with a capital of SR500 million. Until the end of 1421 AH, the bank provided 2,320 loans to finance industrial projects with a total value of more than SR38.691 billion. The Saudi Arabian Agricultural Bank: This bank was established in 1382 AH. Until the last financial year, 402,338 loans valued at SR34 billion, were provided by the bank to finance agricultural supplies and projects. The bank also provided assistance totaling more than SR12 billion. The Saudi Credit Bank: This bank was established in 1391AH. The bank serves low-income group citizens to get married, renovate their houses or engage in vocational activities. Until the end of fiscal year 1421AH, 433,300 loans were provided by the bank, with a total value of about SR6.7 billion. The General Investment Fund: This fund was established in 1391 AH, to support productive commercial projects. Until the end of the fiscal year 1421 AH, the total value of the fund's loans amounted to SR64 billion. On the other hand the total value of exports from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reached more than SR291 billion, while the value of its imports reached SR113 billion, and the volume of trade with commercial partners was SR404 billion in 2000. A report by the Ministry of Commerce said that in 2000 the Kingdom was the world's 13th biggest exporter of goods and 25th biggest importer of goods. The report noted that until mid-1422 AH the number of licensed businesses reached 503. Until the middle of 1422 AH 10,503 companies, with a capital investment of SR164 billion, were engaged in trading in the Kingdom. It said that the number of limited liability companies reached 6,826, with capital of SR80.725 billion. There were 118 joint-stock companies, with an invested capital of SR77.898 billion. The report said that there were 2,523 joint companies, with a capital of SR3.709 billion. There were 3,928 private trade offices until the middle of 1422 AH, and 7,904 trade agencies until 1422 AH. In 1422 AH the number of hotels totalled 531, comprising 55,050 rooms, the report said.