Debt - external:
$25.9 billion (2003 est.)
Economic aid - donor:
pledged $100 million in 1993 to fund reconstruction of Lebanon;
since 2000, Saudi Arabia has committed $307 million for assistance
to the Palestinians; pledged $240 million to development in
Afghanistan
Currency:
Saudi riyal (SAR)
Currency code:
SAR
Exchange rates:
Saudi riyals per US dollar - 3.75 (2002), 3.75 (2001), 3.75 (2000),
3.75 (1999), 3.75 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Saudi Arabia
Telephones - main lines in use:
3.9 million (2002 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.9 million (2002 est.)
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern system
domestic: extensive microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, and
fiber-optic cable systems
international: microwave radio relay to Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait,
Qatar, UAE, Yemen, and Sudan; coaxial cable to Kuwait and Jordan;
submarine cable to Djibouti, Egypt and Bahrain; satellite earth
stations - 5 Intelsat (3 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 1
Arabsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region)