Saudi Arabia is a land of mystery and intrigue, with a history almost as old as civilization itself. It also sits squarely on 25 per cent of the world's oil reserves, which has made this once tribal and backward country into one of the world's most wealthy and powerful players on the global scene in the second half of the 20th century. Saudi Arabia: friend or foe to the United States? Ally in the war on terror, or a major backer of terrorism? Since we have learned that 15 of the 19 9/11 hijackers were Saudi citizens (indeed, Osama Bin Laden is of Saudi descent, and the Bin Laden family is very prominent in Saudi business), Saudi Arabia has been thrust into the international limelight, and cracks in its relationship with the USA - an uneasy alliance even in the best of times - are growing almost daily. This guide presents a comprehensive overview of this complex and mysterious Middle Eastern country. It details Arabia's early history, the rise of the House of Saud; how Saudi Arabia was one of the world's poorest countries until one fateful day in 1938 when some black gold bubbled up out of the sand and changed the course of world events forever. The book also explores the rise of Islamic fundamentalism and covers in detail the vital statistics, culture and day-to-day life of being a Saudi Arabian.