'We Americans reserve the right to have strong opinions on the basis of little knowledge. There are few countries that better exemplify our assertive ignorance of foreign geography, history, and culture than Saudi Arabia' - Ambassador Chas Freeman, Riyadh.

This book of facts is an attempt to redress the imbalance, compiled by a man who has worked and lived in the Kingdom for the past thirty-three years. He hopes its contents will help newcomers grasp the subtleties and fascination of a unique nation.