Challenges for Prayer

1 Saudi Arabia once had a large Christian population. They were expelled when Islam gained control 1,300 years ago. It is now one of the least evangelized nations on earth

2 The world's 1.2 billion Muslims are required to pray towards Mecca five times daily

3 Saudi Arabia probably has the world's worst record on religious freedom and human rights

4 Saudi society is straining at the seams

5 A massive Islamic missionary effort is coordinated by the Muslim World League in Mecca. Billions of dollars are spent every year to propagate Islam around the world

Geography

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Area 2,240,000 sq.km. The main portion of the Arabian Peninsula; almost entirely desert but containing 25% of the world's known oil reserves.

Population (2000) 21,606,691 +3.43%AGR

Capital Riyadh 3.35 mill.

Peoples

Arab 83.8%; Asian 14.2%; African 1.4%; Other 0.6%.

Literacy 62.8%. Official language Arabic. All languages 5.

Economy

Enormous oil wealth produces two-thirds of government revenue and is used to improve services and communications, develop industries and finance Islamic expansion around the world. HDI 0.740; 78^th/174. Income/person $7,150 (22.7% of USA).

Politics

Absolute monarchy and a semi-feudal state with administration, diplomacy and commerce tightly controlled by the large royal family.

Religion

An Islamic state committed to the role of the custodian of Islam and its holiest sites.

Churches in Saudi Arabia

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