Saudi Arabia

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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

LEGAL TRAINING RESOURCE CENTER

Background

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, located in the heart of the Middle East, is the largest country in the Middle East and the birthplace of Islam. [1] The modern Saudi state was founded and unified in 1932 by Ibn Saud. King Abdallah, a descendant of Ibn Saud, currently rules the country. Saudi Arabia is known for producing oil and natural gas, and it is home to over 20% of the world’s proven oil reserves.


The population of Saudi Arabia is just over 26 million. About 5.5 million people are non-nationals. The population is 90% Arab and 10% Afro-Asian. Islam is the country’s only religion. The population is young, with just 3% of the population over age 65 and a median age of 25.3. Life expectancy is about 74 years. The major cities are Riyadh (the capital), Jiddah, Mecca, and Medina. Most of the terrain is uninhabited, sandy desert. There are also great coastlines on the Persian Gulf and Red Sea, which are useful for shipping. [2]

Type of System

Saudi Arabia is a monarchy governed according to Sharia law, Islamic law derived from the Quran and Sunna that guides all aspects of muslim life. ref> http://www.cfr.org/religion/islam-governing-under-sharia/p8034 </ref> In 1992, royal decree created the Basic System, the fundamental constitutional document that articulates rights and responsibilities of the government. [3] The Basic System is complemented by other secular laws and organizations, including the Regional Law and the Consultative Counsel Law.The King is the ultimate authority, and there is also a legislative branch and a judicial branch of government.


The legal system is based on Sharia law. Following the 2007 royal decree to change the judicial system, the courts have become more modern and include multiple-judge courts and regular appeals. [4] The High Court is the highest judicial body. There are also Courts of Appeal which specialize in areas such as Labor, Commercial, and Criminal Circuits. Cases are first heard in the First Instance Courts.


Saudi Arabia does not have a penal code. Criminal defenses may be determined as a matter of opinion rather than based on written law. Judges can issue death sentences for offenses against God, offenses against people as defined under Sharia, and on a “discretionary basis” for acts a judge believes merits the death penalty. [5]

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