Agriculture
A large, but declining, number of Saudi Arabians still rely on a traditional kind of agriculture or nomadic herding for a living. The tilled area, which amounts to less than 1 per cent of the total area, consists mainly of irrigated oasis land and tracts in the southwest of the country, especially Asir, as well as central and eastern Saudi Arabia. Wheat, barley, millet, sorghum, tomatoes, watermelons, citrus fruits, and dates are significant crops. Modern irrigation techniques introduced in the late 20th century helped farmers to produce a greater variety of crops in greater quantities. However, all the food requirements of the country are not produced, and many foods must be imported. The raising of livestock for milk, meat, and wool is particularly important, especially to the Bedouins, who roam the deserts with their herds and flocks. Chickens, cattle, sheep, and goats are the chief animals raised. Eggs are also one of the dairy products.
The fishing industry of Saudi Arabia is quite small, the only important seafood product of the country being the shrimp caught from the Persian Gulf.
The expansion of manufacturing is one of the chief goals set by the Saudi government to lessen the country's dependence on petroleum exports. Heavy industry is emphasized. Petroleum refining, truck assembly, and the making of steel pipe, petrochemicals, fertilizer, and cement are among the manufacturing industries established so far. The Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), a government owned firm manages plants producing a variety of products such as chemicals, fertilizers, and steel. The east coast, especially around Jubail and Dammam, is the chief area where industrial development is taking place. Yanbu is the main center of industrial development on the west coast. There is also some small-scale, local production of processed foods and consumer goods. Mining is a small but growing industry.
A number of minerals are produced in Saudi Arabia, for instance, there are small deposits of gold in Hejaz. There are also deposits of cadmium, copper, iron, lead, platinum, silver, and zinc, but they are largely undeveloped. Clay, gypsum, and limestone are also mined.
Vast areas of Saudi Arabia have no transportation facilities and are accessible only by camel or helicopter. Outside of these areas modern transportation is being developed. The building of asphalt roads is a major priority, and many have been completed, mainly in coastal areas and inland to Riyadh, the capital. Riyadh is linked by rail to Ad Dammam, the Persian Gulf port, and Hofuf.
The country's chief cargo ports are Jidda, Ad Dammam, Jubail, and Yanbu. However, it is Ras Tanura, a port in the Persian Gulf that handles most of the oil exports of the country. A causeway links Saudi Arabia to Bahrain. International airports are located at Riyadh, Jidda, and Dhahran, and Ad Dammam. Saudia, or the Saudi Arabian Airlines, is the national airline, owned and operated by the government.
About 10 daily newspapers are published in Saudi Arabia, including three in English, the rest in Arabic. Most Saudi families possess at least one radio and television set, and satellite dishes are widespread in the urban areas.
Petroleum accounts for about 90 per cent of Saudi Arabia's exports, the rest coming from the export of chemicals, plastics, and processed foods. Saudi Arabia imports such products as automobiles, chemicals, electrical equipment and appliances, food products, machinery, military equipment, and textiles. The chief trading partners of Saudi Arabia include Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
