It is a widely known fact that Saudi Arabia has been declared absolute monarchy in

the world until 1992. At that time the Saud royal family introduced the first
constitution of the country. The political system in Saudi Arabia is ruled by a king
who must comply with the basics of the Quran and Sunnah as per Islamic laws laid
down by the religion. The political system of the country is the homeland of Arabs
where they imposed the world's second largest religion, Islam. Geographical
background of this country is a wide part of uninhabited desert land which includes
Rub Al Khali and An-Nafud Deserts where a study shows that sandstorms and
dunes sometimes exceed 100 ft. in height. In this study, we will briefly evaluate
and discussed the political and geographical background of Saudi Arabia.

Muhammad S.A.W founded the religion Islam 1400 years ago. Since then the same
had become basic religion in the country. So there is no doubt about the political
background of the country that it has always been ruled by Islamic Rulers. This
kingdom is an absolute monarchy ruled by Al Saud family for years. Islamic laws
and shariah is the primary source of political legislation. However, studies do not
prove that this legislation has ever affected by the country’s inner politics and
tribal background. The religious laws and shariah rules seem to be evergreen and
strong in the past.

Until 1992, Saudi Arabia has never written down country’s basic constitution. At
that time, the king issued basic law for the Saudi Arabian government. This
document serves a major milestone in the country’s political history. In that royal
decree, King Fahd provides basic guidelines for running the government. He set
down guidelines about the rights and responsibilities of the citizens. The royal
constitution has been published in official newspapers and television on 31 January
1992. In this very first constitution, the king defines the country's judicial,
legislative and executive functions. The king then presides over the ministry
council who has been officially declared to be responsible for administrative and
executive matters of the country both locally and internationally.

The political constitution of Saudi Arabia provides a basic platform regarding its
defence, educational, health, and financial background. The basic law of Saudi
Arabian government makes its way in 1993, at that time a new consultancy council
has established a quasi-legislative body for the country. This consultative council
has been founded by the king himself and it includes A-grade technical experts for
the technical issues of the country. The members of the council have basic rights to
draft and modify the legislation as per needs and demands to run down political
affairs of the country.

A very small portion of the country’s population has a right to participate in

political affairs of the country as no elections have ever been conducted for
national political bodies. Due to shariah compliant rules and strict Islamic laws, the
participation of women in political views is limited. Although women are allowed
to participate in local municipal councils as per modern political laws laid down by
the country. The main power of the country has always been limited to the royal
family hands beyond which nobody is allowed to rule down the country in major
affairs.

Saudi Arabia attains a strong identity for its traditional system and tribal rules from
decades. Although some economic and political changes have been made in the
late 20th century, therefore, the country’s tribal identity remains strong as it is. It
remains an important pillar to run down country’s economy and modern political
and social control. Though a modern state bureaucracy has been formed by the
state therefore tribal affiliation is as strong as it remains in the past. A high degree
of authority has been owned and maintained by tribal sheikhs. These sheikhs attain
a major degree of authority in local and national events of the country. Thus it is
the most common fact that tribal hierarchy of country is very strict and complex in
the modern political views of Saudi Arabia.

The economy of Saudi Arabia has been parted in less and strong influential local
tribes. Though Al Saud family does not belong to this tribal system, sometimes it
behaves like one in economic and political views of the country. As the country’s
affairs have been run down by a king, a tribal affair and small legal hearings have
been run down by a tribal sheikh. They hear tribal disputes and give a wise
problem-solving decision to manage the small affairs of the country.

Saudia Arabia remains under royal family power from decades. And the king has
always been elected due to his martial skills and religious ties. One finest rule of
Saudi Arabia is that the king always owes their positions according to their ability
to run down complex conditions and to manage aggressive modern political affairs
of the country. Before selection of the king, one must have been accessed for its
strong decision making and problem-solving powers. Besides these, he should
prove himself trustworthy and loyal for the religious and political affairs of the
country.

The kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been formed by King Ibn Saud (1882–1953). He
was a former Wahabi leader who seized Riyadh in 1901. From that time
government of Saudi Arabia remains under the rule of Al Saud Family. All major
policy decisions and political issues went nowhere but the royal family which
remains dominant in power throughout the period. All political decisions are made
under the joint supervision of all the royal family members. All of the sensitive
government posts are also occupied by the members of the royal family.

The kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been parted into 13 administrative regions.
These regions are further divided into various districts. All of the regional
governors have been elected from royal family members. They are dominant in
municipal councils and preside over the important seats. In municipal councils,
governors hold issues regarding health, education, agriculture, municipalities and
finance of Saudi Arabia. No one denies the fact that the royal family of Saudi
Arabia dominates over all the important seats and economic affairs of the country.

The modern political background of Saudi Arabia withholds Shariah as the basis of
justice in the kingdom. They follow Hanbali tradition of Islam for their
judgemental affairs. Political laws of Saudi Arabia contain strict punishments and
conservative thoughts. Crimes such as theft, taking drugs such as alcohol and
heroin, witchcraft practising and trafficking are considered unbearable at any cost
for which their punishments are also very severe.

Saudi Arabia has more than 300 Shariah courts for the judgmental affairs. Ministry
of justice has been formed in the year 1970. Its entire judicial works have been
supervised by the Supreme Judicial Council which consists of leading qualified
members of the Ulama. These Ulamas give authentic and proofread decisions in
the lights and criteria laid down by Islamic rules under the principles of Quran and
Sunnah. As the Islamic laws have been laid down under the reign of Muhammad
S.A.W, where modern era crimes such as traffic violation and industrial accidents
did not exist. These crimes in Saudi Arabia have not been encompassed by
traditional Islamic laws. So the royal decrees have been appointed in judicial courts
for handling these issues. These royal decrees work under the principles that are
not drawn from Islamic precepts.

Military service in Saudi Arabia is voluntary. 3/5th of the total military force has
been accounted for by the army. In 1967, after Arab Israel war, Saudi Arabia pays
more attention to the modernization of its military service. Now it has developed
well equipped and modernized military force for its defence and security. Earlier,
Saudi Arabia has to depend on the US for the military air force, and its air force
has been employed from the British until the late 1970s. At that time the country
started buying latest and modern air crafts for the air force and Saudi Arabia has
now been equipped with one the best and well-trained air force for its military
defending. Saudi Arabia has made rapid changes in the development of its air and
ground forces containing hundreds of modern style military air crafts and state of
art main battle tanks for ground rescue.

Training of the army officers and air force has now been held in military
academies that are equipped with latest and modern fighting techniques used for
defence. Saudi Arabia has now got navy tanks and fighting ships for its underwater
defence. All of these three armed services i.e.: army, navy and air force are
presided by the defence minister. The defence minister of Saudi Arabia is also
known as second deputy prime minister of the country.

Saudi Arabia now contains its own internal security organs. It includes the central
national police force, coast guard and frontier force for the management of the
country’s internal affairs. These security organs are directly reported to the
ministry of internal affairs. The second responsibility of this ministry is to also
supervise the country's internal intelligence and counterintelligence bodies.