- Title: SAUDI ARABIA: THE GATEWAYS TO MECCA - RIYADH AND JEDDAH
- Date: 7th September 1967
- Summary: SCENES OF MODERN RIYADH AND JEDDAH, SHOWING THE CONTRAST BETWEEN ANCIENT CUSTOMS AND MODERN LIVING. 1. GTV RIYADH STREETS 0.06 2. SV MODERN AMERICAN CARS IN STREET 0.14 3. SV VEILED WOMAN WALKS PAST 0.20 4. SV MODERN CARS AND DONKEY CART ALONG STREETS 0.35 5. GV MOSQUE PAN TO RESIDENCE OF RULER OF RIYADH 0.46 6. GV DONKEY CARTS ALONG MODERN STREET 0.51 7. SV MAN IN TRADITIONAL DRESS PAST CAMERA, MOSQUE IN B/G 1.02 8. GV PAN ..MODERN OFFICE BLOCKS 1.13 9. GV PAN...PILGRIMS AT JEDDAH PAN FFM COACHES TO PILGRIMS BY RIVER 1.28 10. GV OLD MAN 1.34 11. GV MAN BATHING FEET 1.42 12. SV OTHER PILGRIMS PAN COME TO MAN PRAYING 1.53 13. CV MAN KNEELS DOWN 2.08 14. SV DITTO 2.11 15. SV LUGGAGE UNLOADED FROM TRUCK 2.20 16. CV PILGRIMS WAIT TO RECEIVE BELONGINGS 2.25 17. GV PAN..LUGGAGE AND CAMP NEAR HARBOUR 2.36 18. CV PILGRIMS BY BUS PAN TO LUGGAGE ON BUS ROOF 2.43 19. CV PACKING CASE "MECCA" ADDRESS 2.48 Initials PBS/VS/AS/SM Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 22nd September 1967 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: RIYADH & JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA
- Country: Saudi Arabia
- Reuters ID: LVA2K02T2W57OS04ONYYPXS56PEP
- Story Text: SAUDI ARABIA IS A COUNTRY WITHOUT RIVERS; HOT, AND AUSTERE. BUT FOR THE FOLLOWERS OF THE ISLAMIC FAITH IT IS ONE OF THE MOST HOLY PLACES ON EARTH - THE BIRTHPLACE OF MOHAMMED AND THE HOME OF THE GREATEST MOSLEM SHRINES.
THE COUNTRY IS NOW AMONG THE MOST QUICKLY DEVELOPING IN THE ARAB WORLD. EVIDENCE OF THE PROGRESS FROM A PRIMITIVE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY TO A SOPHISTICATED MODERN COMMERCIAL CENTRE IS SHOWN BY THE BUILDING WORKS BEING UNDERTAKEN IN RIYADH, THE CAPITAL, AND JEDDAH, THE MAJOR SEAPORT, AND, LIKE RIYADH, ONE OF THE ASSEMBLY CENTRES FOR PILGRIMS MAKING THE LONG WEEK TO MECCA.
THE POPULATION OF RIYADH IS AROUND 170-THOUSAND. IT IS SITUATED ALMOST IN THE CENTRE OF SAUDI ARABIA, WELL OVER THREE HUNDRED MILES (480 K.M.) INLAND FROM THE PERSIAN GULF.
RIYADH HAS GROWN UP AS THE CAPITAL. IT IS A LARGELY UNPLANNED ASSORTMENT OF MODERN BUILDINGS AND ANCIENT MUD DWELLINGS; WITH STREETS ECHOING TO THE RESTRAINED ROAR OF POWERFUL MOTOR CARS - MAINLY AMERICAN - AND THE CLATTER OF OLD DONKEY-DRAWN CARTS. THE SAUDI ARABIAN RULER, KING FAISAL HAS A PALACE IN THE CAPITAL, WHERE HE REMAINS FOR ABOUT THREE MONTHS EACH YEAR. HE ALSO SPENDS THREE MONTHS IN JEDDAH.
JEDDAH IS THE COMMERCIAL CENTRE OF SAUDI ARABIA, AND THE DIPLOMATIC HEADQUARTERS. IT STANDS ON THE RED SEA, ABOUT MID-WAY BETWEEN THE ARABIAN SEA AND THE ENTRANCE OF THE SUEZ CANAL. IT HAS A POPULATION OF 148-THOUSAND, BUT THIS IS SWOLLEN EACH YEAR BY THE SCORES OF THOUSANDS OF PILGRIMS WHO PASS THROUGH THE TOWN ON THEIR WAY TO MECCA, A FEW MILES TO THE EAST. IT HAS DEVELOPED AS A BUSY PORT, AND IS THE MAIN CENTRE FOR SAUDI ARABIA'S IMPORTS.
THE COUNTRY'S DEVELOPMENTS HAVE BEEN LARGELY MADE POSSIBLE BY THE EXPORTS OF OIL AND ROYALTIES, WORTH A TOTAL OF GBP250-MILLION STERLING A YEAR.
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