Khobar
Encyclopedia
Khobar is a large city located in the Eastern Province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
on the Persian Gulf
. It has a population of 360,000 (2009 census) and forms part of the greater Dammam
metropolitan area along with Dhahran
, which together have a combined population of over two million. All three urban centers are served by the King Fahd International Airport
, the distance to the airport terminal from Khobar is about 50 km (30 Miles).
Many of Khobar's residents work for Saudi Aramco
, the world's largest oil company. Traditionally, Khobar has also been a city of shopkeepers and merchants, and the city today has many modern malls and boulevards with shops run by international franchises, and restaurants. Together, Khobar, Dhahran
and Dammam
are often known as "The Triplet Cities". Khobar today is a bustling economic centre with many skyscapers under construction. The nearby city of Dammam has the second-largest port in Saudi Arabia.
, a fishing village inhabited mainly by Al Dawasir
tribe members. With the discovery of oil in the 1930s, it was transformed into a major commercial and shopping center and an industrial port. In modern times, the larger port of Dammam
has taken over most commercial shipping activities for the Eastern Province, and oil is exported via the dedicated Saudi Aramco
port of Ras Tanura
. As a result, Khobar has transformed and extended its water front along the Persian Gulf into a scenic Beirut
-like corniche
with parks, eateries, and family beaches, thus making it one of the most iconic features of the city. Moreover, Khobar's ideal location along the Arabian Sea has made it increasingly popular amongst people traveling from cities within the Kingdom (such as the capital Riyadh
which lies approximately 400 km west).
The 16 miles (25.7 km) King Fahd Causeway
connects Khobar to the island nation of Bahrain
, previously reachable only by air or sea.
The city is divided into four areas: Khobar, Subekha, Thuqba and Aqrabia. While Khobar, Subekha and Thuqba are mainly commercial areas with not much residential scope, Aqrabia consists of mostly residential complexes, accommodating about 50% of the city's population.
The city used to have a model of the space shuttle Discovery
to commemorate the space flight of Sultan Salman Al Saud, the first Saudi in space (on STS-51-G
).
The city is also the home of famed Quran reciter Ahmad Ali Al-Ajmi.
In 1996, the Khobar Towers, a US Air Force housing complex, was bombed
by Hezbollah Al-Hejaz militants, killing 19 US servicemen and one Saudi local.
northwest of Dammam
, the driving distance from the terminal to Khobar city is 55 km (34.2 mi).
Every school provides bus services.
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
on the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
. It has a population of 360,000 (2009 census) and forms part of the greater Dammam
Dammam
Dammam is the capital of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, the most oil-rich region in the world. The judicial and administrative bodies of the province and several government departments are located in the city. Dammam is the largest city in the Eastern Province and third largest in Saudi...
metropolitan area along with Dhahran
Dhahran
Dhahran is a city located in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province, and is a major administrative center for the Saudi oil industry. Large oil reserves were first identified in the Dhahran area in 1931, and in 1935 Standard Oil of California drilled the first commercially viable oil well...
, which together have a combined population of over two million. All three urban centers are served by the King Fahd International Airport
King Fahd International Airport
King Fahd International Airport is located 20 kilometers northwest of Dammam, Saudi Arabia. It is the largest airport in the world in terms of land area . The airport's basic infrastructure was complete by the end of 1990, which allowed the Allied forces engaged in the first Gulf War in early...
, the distance to the airport terminal from Khobar is about 50 km (30 Miles).
Many of Khobar's residents work for Saudi Aramco
Saudi Aramco
Saudi Aramco , officially the Saudi Arabian Oil Company, is the national oil company of Saudi Arabia.Saudi Aramco is the world's largest and most valuable privately-held company, with estimates of its value in 2011 to be $7 trillion USD.Saudi Aramco has both the largest proven crude oil reserves,...
, the world's largest oil company. Traditionally, Khobar has also been a city of shopkeepers and merchants, and the city today has many modern malls and boulevards with shops run by international franchises, and restaurants. Together, Khobar, Dhahran
Dhahran
Dhahran is a city located in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province, and is a major administrative center for the Saudi oil industry. Large oil reserves were first identified in the Dhahran area in 1931, and in 1935 Standard Oil of California drilled the first commercially viable oil well...
and Dammam
Dammam
Dammam is the capital of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, the most oil-rich region in the world. The judicial and administrative bodies of the province and several government departments are located in the city. Dammam is the largest city in the Eastern Province and third largest in Saudi...
are often known as "The Triplet Cities". Khobar today is a bustling economic centre with many skyscapers under construction. The nearby city of Dammam has the second-largest port in Saudi Arabia.
History
In earlier days, Khobar was a small port on the Arabian GulfArabian Gulf
Arabian Gulf may refer to:*Persian Gulf, a body of water sometimes controversially referred to as the Arabian Gulf or The Gulf by some Arab countries...
, a fishing village inhabited mainly by Al Dawasir
Dawasir
The Al Dawasir is an Arabian bedouin tribe divided into clans and families. The word Dawasir is plural for Dosari...
tribe members. With the discovery of oil in the 1930s, it was transformed into a major commercial and shopping center and an industrial port. In modern times, the larger port of Dammam
Dammam
Dammam is the capital of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, the most oil-rich region in the world. The judicial and administrative bodies of the province and several government departments are located in the city. Dammam is the largest city in the Eastern Province and third largest in Saudi...
has taken over most commercial shipping activities for the Eastern Province, and oil is exported via the dedicated Saudi Aramco
Saudi Aramco
Saudi Aramco , officially the Saudi Arabian Oil Company, is the national oil company of Saudi Arabia.Saudi Aramco is the world's largest and most valuable privately-held company, with estimates of its value in 2011 to be $7 trillion USD.Saudi Aramco has both the largest proven crude oil reserves,...
port of Ras Tanura
Ras Tanura
Ras Tanura is a city in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia located on a peninsula extending into the Persian Gulf...
. As a result, Khobar has transformed and extended its water front along the Persian Gulf into a scenic Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
-like corniche
Corniche
The word corniche typically refers to a road on the side of a cliff or mountain, with the ground rising on one side of the road and falling away on the other...
with parks, eateries, and family beaches, thus making it one of the most iconic features of the city. Moreover, Khobar's ideal location along the Arabian Sea has made it increasingly popular amongst people traveling from cities within the Kingdom (such as the capital Riyadh
Riyadh
Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of Riyadh Province, and belongs to the historical regions of Najd and Al-Yamama. It is situated in the center of the Arabian Peninsula on a large plateau, and is home to 5,254,560 people, and the urban center of a...
which lies approximately 400 km west).
The 16 miles (25.7 km) King Fahd Causeway
King Fahd Causeway
The King Fahd Causeway is a causeway connecting Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. The idea of constructing the causeway was based on improving the links and bonds between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain...
connects Khobar to the island nation of Bahrain
Bahrain
' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
, previously reachable only by air or sea.
The city is divided into four areas: Khobar, Subekha, Thuqba and Aqrabia. While Khobar, Subekha and Thuqba are mainly commercial areas with not much residential scope, Aqrabia consists of mostly residential complexes, accommodating about 50% of the city's population.
The city used to have a model of the space shuttle Discovery
Space Shuttle Discovery
Space Shuttle Discovery is one of the retired orbiters of the Space Shuttle program of NASA, the space agency of the United States, and was operational from its maiden flight, STS-41-D on August 30, 1984, until its final landing during STS-133 on March 9, 2011...
to commemorate the space flight of Sultan Salman Al Saud, the first Saudi in space (on STS-51-G
STS-51-G
STS-51-G was the eighteenth flight of NASA's Space Shuttle program, and the fifth flight of Space Shuttle Discovery. The mission launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on 17 June 1985...
).
The city is also the home of famed Quran reciter Ahmad Ali Al-Ajmi.
In 1996, the Khobar Towers, a US Air Force housing complex, was bombed
Khobar Towers bombing
The Khobar Towers bombing was a terrorist attack on part of a housing complex in the city of Khobar, Saudi Arabia, located near the national oil company headquarters of Dhahran. In 1996, Khobar Towers was being used to house foreign military personnel.Al-Qaeda has incorrectly been described by...
by Hezbollah Al-Hejaz militants, killing 19 US servicemen and one Saudi local.
Airport
Khobar is served by King Fahd International AirportKing Fahd International Airport
King Fahd International Airport is located 20 kilometers northwest of Dammam, Saudi Arabia. It is the largest airport in the world in terms of land area . The airport's basic infrastructure was complete by the end of 1990, which allowed the Allied forces engaged in the first Gulf War in early...
northwest of Dammam
Dammam
Dammam is the capital of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, the most oil-rich region in the world. The judicial and administrative bodies of the province and several government departments are located in the city. Dammam is the largest city in the Eastern Province and third largest in Saudi...
, the driving distance from the terminal to Khobar city is 55 km (34.2 mi).
Infrastructure
Al Khobar is connected with the major highways in the region including Dhahran-Jubail Highway, Dhahran-Dammam Highway as well as Khobar-Dammam Highway which links Khobar with Dammam directly and links them both to Dammam Airport.Education
First school in Khobar was established in 1942. Today, Khobar is home to more than 100 public and private educational institutes. International Indian School, Khobar (CBSE) is one of the world's largest Indian schools with more than 17000 students. Countries such as Pakistan and Bangladesh are also operating their own respective schools and curriculum successfully. Al Khobar is also home to several Western oriented schools like International Philippine School, British and American Schools with a significant number of students from various expatriate communities. To name some of them; Dahran Ahliya School, Saad National School, Al Jamma School.Every school provides bus services.
See also
- Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia
- DammamDammamDammam is the capital of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, the most oil-rich region in the world. The judicial and administrative bodies of the province and several government departments are located in the city. Dammam is the largest city in the Eastern Province and third largest in Saudi...
- DhahranDhahranDhahran is a city located in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province, and is a major administrative center for the Saudi oil industry. Large oil reserves were first identified in the Dhahran area in 1931, and in 1935 Standard Oil of California drilled the first commercially viable oil well...
- King Fahd CausewayKing Fahd CausewayThe King Fahd Causeway is a causeway connecting Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. The idea of constructing the causeway was based on improving the links and bonds between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain...
- Al Rashid MallAl Rashid MallThe Al Rashed Mall is a shopping mall located in the west of the Khobar city center in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The mall is located on the northern side of the King Abdullah Road opposite where it is joined by the King Khalid Road .- Layout and Floorplan :The original Mall based on a Y shaped...