Conclusiones del capítulo

2.2.1 The setting.

The modern state of Saudi Arabia was founded in 1932 with the union of the kingdoms of the Hijaz and Najd (Al-Rasheed, 2002). KSA is the largest Arab country of the Middle East,

with a land area of approximately 2,149,690 square kilometres, with the Red Sea to the west and Arab Gulf to the east (Figure 2.1).

Figure 2.1. Map of Saudi Arabia including capital and major cities (Saudi National e-Government Portal, 2014).

The country is largely rocky and arid desert, home for much of its history to nomadic tribal communities with only rudimentary state structures (Al-Rasheed, 2002). However, two key events have given KSA global importance: in the seventh century, it became the cradle of Islam, and in the mid-twentieth century the discovery of large oil deposits gave the country a major economic and geopolitical role (Al-Rasheed, 2002).

2.2.2 Population, economy and environment.

The current estimated population is 28.3 million, including 6.3 million non-nationals (Central Department of Information and Statistics, 2012). All Saudis are ethnic Arabs, who share a common religion, Islam. Foreign nationals are drawn mainly from the Indian sub-continent, other Middle Eastern countries, the Philippines and Indonesia, with around 100,000 Westerners,

most of who live in compounds or gated communities. The migration of Saudis to other countries in the world is rare, except temporarily for duty or study purposes. The population is expected to increase to more than 33 million by 2020, with the number of Saudis rising to nearly 28 million. The Saudi component of the workforce is expected to increase relative to the proportion of foreign nationals, which will decline at an average annual rate of two percent (Bakri, 2010). The population is young, with 38 percent aged 0–14 years, 60 percent 15–64 years, and only two percent 65 years and over (Central Department of Information and Statistics, 2012).

The Saudi economy is based on oil, with approximately one-fifth of the world’s proven reserves. Approximately 75 percent of budget revenues and 95 percent of export earnings come from oil. The World Bank classifies KSA as a ‘middle-income’ country with a relatively high standard of living (United Nations, 2010). Per capita incomes are expected to rise further with the launch of six ‘economic cities’, which aim to expand and diversify the economy and are planned for completion by 2020.

A major environmental issue for KSA is water shortages. For population health, water supplies not only need to be adequate, but of sufficient quality to reduce adverse health effects, including water-borne diseases (WHO, 2014c). In KSA, 47 percent of the population now has access to safe drinking water and 37 percent of the population has access to adequate sanitation.

For the Riyadh region, 65 percent of the population have connections to the national water network. The remaining 35 percent receive domestic water from trucks, wells and containers.

Regarding sanitation services in Riyadh City, sewage disposal connections to the municipal network in March 2002 covered 48 percent of the surface of the city (Elhadj, 2004). The KSA Government has approved $105 million for water and sanitation works across the Kingdom, which should help the region move towards water security; however, some residents say education is needed to raise awareness about the important role individual conservation plays in water consumption (Zaharani, Shayaa Al-Shayaa & Baig, 2011). Since January 2008, the

Government has owned the National Water Company to ensure improved water supply to all regions of the Kingdom. However, plans to raise water tariffs may prevent the poor from being able to afford safe drinking water, and health problems may continue and in fact increase among the country’s poor and illegal immigrants (United Nations Development Program [UNDP], 2006).

Due to the water shortage, KSA has adopted a national strategy to combat desertification, including a national forest strategy, and waste water reclamation and reuse systems; this follows UNDP recommendations that water consumption be limited and economically viable renewable resources be developed for agriculture and forestry (UNDP, 2006). However, rapid population growth limits the Government's efforts to increase food self-sufficiency, with most agricultural products imported from abroad (Ouda, 2013).

2.2.3 Social, cultural and lifestyle change.

Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy, although the king, like all citizens, must comply with Islamic law. This political and religious context means that compared with western countries, there are many social restrictions, particularly for women. In Saudi culture, life still revolves mainly around traditional Islamic and family values, and the Saudi family is usually extended, with three generations in a household. However, in recent years there have been many significant social and cultural changes, especially in living conditions, education and health.

Until the 1950s, KSA was without resources, and its people were living in mud houses with life as simple as in past centuries. Following the discovery of oil, life changed quickly. The majority of Saudis now live in villages, towns or big cities, with only five percent still living as nomadic tribes (Central Department of Information and Statistics, 2012). UNESCO estimated in 1950 that more than 90 percent of the Saudi population was illiterate. Since then, education has been one of the Government’s top priorities. Before 1960, the education of girls was almost unheard of, except within the family. At this time, the Government established an independent organisation to control and supervise the education of girls. Girls' education is separate from

boys' at all levels, in keeping with Islamic teaching. Higher education for both men and women has expanded rapidly, with a large number of universities and colleges founded since 2000.

Tertiary education focuses on science, technology, military studies and medicine, along with Islamic studies.