23 September: Saudi Arabia

Today was the date of the Foundation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932 - here are 10 things you might not know about Saudi Arabia:

1. Saudi Arabia is sometimes called "the Land of the Two Holy Mosques" because Al-Masjid al-Haram (in Mecca), and Al-Masjid an-Nabawi (in Medina), the two holiest places in Islam, are both within its borders. The Saudi king’s official title is “Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.”
2. Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy. There are no national elections but adult males are traditionally entitled to petition the King, and the King must abide by Islamic law. At time of writing the king is Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. He was crowned King of Saudi Arabia at the age of 79 on 23 January 2015 following the death of his half brother, King Abdullah. King Salman also has the distinction of becoming, in 1985, the first Saudi, first Arab, and first Muslim to travel in space when he rode aboard the U.S. Space Shuttle Discovery.
3. The national sport in Saudi Arabia is Football. However, there are other popular sports including Camel racing (The annual King's Camel Race, is one of the sport's most important contests and attracts animals and riders from throughout the region, and the camel market in the capital city of Riyadh is one of the largest in the world and sells about 100 camels a day) and sidewalk skiing which is basically tipping a car onto its side wheels on a public road, driving it on a tilt, and climbing out and standing on top of the vehicle. This activity has gained considerable popularity in Saudi Arabia. Some participants can even change the tyres of the two airborne wheels while in motion.
4. Women aren't allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia, so you won't find any women sidewalk skiing. Women have very little freedom here. They cannot travel or study without permission from a male relative. They are not allowed to work (except in lingerie shops where there is a total reversal of the law. Men are not allowed to sell lingerie and a shop can be closed down if a man is caught serving on the lingerie counter - but the women still have to have permission from a male relative to work); must sit in separate specially designated family sections in restaurants, to wear an abaya and cover their hair. Saudi Arabia was the last country in the world to give women the vote. Local elections in 2015 was the first occasion when women voted.
5. Saudi Arabia is the 13th largest country in the world and the largest country in the world not to have any rivers. Over 95% of Saudi Arabia is desert or semi-desert, so supplying fresh Water is an issue. Drinkable water here is more expensive than oil.
6. The world's next tallest building is going to be here. They started building it in 2014 Saudi Arabia’s Kingdom Tower will stand 3,280 feet (1 km) high, 600 feet (183 meters) taller than the world's current tallest building, the Burj Khalifa hotel in Dubai.
7. The judicial system and Constitution are all dictated by Islamic law. All shops and businesses close for up to half an hour five times a day for prayer times. All Saudis are officially Muslims. There are other religions among ex-pats living in the country but they are not allowed to worship openly and woe betide any who try to convert people - that would get them the death penalty. Only Muslims can be buried within the borders of Saudi Arabia.
8. Execution by beheading is perfectly legal here and can be meted out for rejecting Islam, adultery and being gay as well as for rape and murder. However, the country is experiencing a shortage of swordsmen - they are seriously considering changing the method of execution to firing squad instead.
9. They are seriously concerned about witchcraft, sorcery and magic there. So much so that the government has set up an Anti-Witchcraft Action Unit under the auspices of the religious police. The unit is charged with apprehending sorcerers (who will be sentenced to death) and reversing the harmful effects of their spells. They have even banned Harry Potter books.
10. The traditional national dish is khūzī, a dish consisting of a stuffed lamb. In Jeddah and Jejaz, baby camels are also considered a delicacy.