|
 Saudi Arabia
is the largest advertising market in the region, accounting for 40
percent of all advertising expenditures in the Gulf alone. The
Saudis, with their relatively high per- capita income and
market-oriented economy, have become the prime target of producers
of consumer goods and thus, the prime targets of the best
international advertising firms.
Richest
nation is region with around 30% of worlds proven oil reserves and
untapped Gas reverses likely to be the worlds biggest.
New Middle Class rich boosted by strong stock market and real estate
sectors, as well as booming tax free domestic market.
GDP per head
figure misleadingly low as no tax collection results in little
accurate data.
Take home
pay on par with Western Europe and North America, but with
considerably lower costs of living, spending power is greater.
Ranked as
21st biggest economy by World Bank in 2005 (ahead of Austria, Greece
and Ireland) based on GDP.
Ranked as
26th highest Price Purchasing Power (PPP) economy by World Bank in
2005.
Large and
growing professional Middle Class, of which majority are under 35.
High Internet DSL (Broadband) penetration.
High Credit and Payment card usage (Internet commerce enabled).
Internet access from work and home amongst 18-40 year olds is
6
hours per day.
Large number of
Saudi online sites cater for domestic market.
Majority of content is in
Arabic language though English
language is also commonly understood.
Population:
26.5 million of which some 6 million are non-nationals (July 2005
est.)
Age
structure: 0-14 years: 38.2% (male 5,149,960/female 4,952,138)
15-64 years: 59.4% (male 8,992,348/female 6,698,633)
65 years and over: 2.4% (male 334,694/female 289,826) (2005 est.)
Median age:
total: 21.28 years
male: 22.84 years
female: 19.28 years (2005 est.)
Economic Data
|
2000
|
2001
|
2002
|
2003
|
|
GDP per head ( PPP) |
10,256 |
10,320 |
10,275 |
10,770 |
|
GDP (% real change pa) |
4.86 |
1.31 |
1.02 |
6.41 |
|
Government consumption (% of GDP) |
26.01 |
27.50 |
25.71 |
23.40 |
|
Budget balance (% of GDP) |
3.22 |
-3.93 |
-5.71 |
5.70 |
|
Consumer prices (% change pa; av) |
-1.21 |
-1.12 |
0.31 |
0.50 |
|
Public debt (% of GDP) |
97.15 |
101.49 |
107.00 |
91.50 |
|
(USD) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Current-account balance/GDP |
7.60 |
5.11 |
6.31 |
11.80 |
|
Foreign-exchange reserves (mUS0 |
19,586 |
17,596 |
20,610 |
22,620 |
Source: Economist Intelligence
Unit Source: Country Data
World Bank Reports: GDP, PPP
CIA: World Fact Book
|
Saudi
General Index