Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 7,648,999 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 6,592,709 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males: 247,334 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$18 billion (2002)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
10% (2002)
Transnational Issues Saudi Arabia
Disputes - international:
despite resistance from nomadic groups, the demarcation of the
Saudi Arabia-Yemen boundary established under the 2000 Jeddah Treaty
is almost complete; Yemen protests Saudi erection of a
concrete-filled pipe as a security barrier in 2004 to stem illegal
cross-border activities in sections of the boundary; Kuwait and
Saudi Arabia continue discussions on a maritime boundary with Iran;
because the treaties have not been made public, the exact alignment
of the boundary with the UAE is still unknown
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 240,000 (Palestinian Territories)
(2004)
Illicit drugs:
death penalty for traffickers; increasing consumption of heroin,
cocaine, and hashish; not a major money-laundering center, improving
anti-money-laundering legislation