ABSTRACT
Saudi Arabia, in terms of geographical area, oil reserves and production, population and economy, is on an entirely larger scale than the Gulf states which this analysis has dealt with so far. As an oil producer, Saudi Arabia dominates the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries and is a principal in the world, with reserves expected to last at least 20 years at current levels of production. The wealth strategic, political importance of Saudi Arabia have led to conjecture the size of the national population and number of immigrants living in the country. The rate of extraction is obviously a key variable in estimating the duration of oil life. Aramco, the principal company extracting oil in Saudi Arabia, has plans to expand oil output. In Saudi Arabia’s case, the rapidity of modern economic development from such a small base has resulted in the majority of the country becoming, effectively, a massive periphery to the main central belt of development.
