How Al-Khobar Became the Industrial, Commercial, Tourism and Recreational Hub of the Eastern Province

Al-Khobar is one of the three main cities in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. It is located along the western coast of the Arabian Gulf, and is part of the ‘Triplet Cities’ area, along with Dammam and Dhahran, forming the residential core of the region. As of today, the Province has become the most important industrial region of the Kingdom, contributing 60% of GDP to the national economy according to the latest news. It contains the majority of KSA’s oil and gas reserves and, therefore, several industries that consist of petrochemicals, chemicals, steel, cement, aluminum and plastics, decided to set up there. The Province is home to the Ghawar Fields, the largest oil field in the world, and Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest oil company in terms of its proven oil reserves, which constitute one-fourth of the total global stocks.

After the recent launch of Saudi Vision 2030, a strategic framework created to diversify Saudi Arabia’s economy and develop public service sectors such as health, education, infrastructure, recreation, and tourism, there have been noticeable social and economic transformations witnessed in the Kingdom and the Province, as they are now opening up to tourism and the entertainment industry. A good example being KSA’s formal announcement in 2019 of the issuance of the tourist visa allowing visitors from 49 countries to visit the country up to 90 days, benefitting tourism all over the major cities.

Al-Khobar, which started as a small port on the Arabian Gulf inhabited mainly by fishermen, has emerged as the industrial, commercial, tourism and recreational hub of the Eastern Province over the years. It is the center of the area’s export-import activity, and is a transit point for goods that are distributed throughout the Kingdom. It contains branches of all the country’s major banks, as well as factories turning out industrial gas, dairy products, carbonated water, tissue paper and ready-made garments, but also fine hotels and luxurious residential buildings.

The city consists of malls, offices and modern infrastructures, and, over the past few years, the real estate sector has seen a boom, in particular lifestyle developments offering residential, commercial, and entertainment opportunities. A good example of this trend is Ajdan Waterfront, which provides guests and residents with exclusive residential spaces at Ajdan Rise, the first food village in the Eastern Province at Ajdan Walk, a stunning event space at Ajdan Terrace, a brand-new luxurious AMC Cinema theatre, and an upcoming five-star Fairmont Hotel. Ajdan’s CEO, Mohammed Al Otaibi, recently said in an interview: “Today, we in Ajdan are more focused on the tourism and entertainment sector because we think the government is betting big in these two sectors, and we would like to align ourselves with the country’s vision”.

Al-Khobar is home to prestigious international and local chain restaurants, coffee shops, and boutiques of all kinds, and tourists’ attractions are plentiful. Towards the north, picturesque gardens adorn the city, breathing life to the iconic skyscrapers. To the south, the city is naturally ornamented with beaches that offer pulsating experiences for amateur divers, picnic goers, evening strollers, and entertainment lovers. In fact, people from the neighboring GCC states as well as the rest of the Kingdom visit Al-Khobar to do activities such as fishing, scuba diving and water sports.

Famous landmarks and destinations include the Al-Khobar Corniche, a 16-km stretch of parks and a corniche running parallel to the eastern coast of the city along the Persian Gulf and hosting some of the city’s most famous attractions ; the famous Half Moon beach, a scenic crescent-shaped beach on the Persian Gulf coast that stretches on for miles, and a popular recreation spot for local and expat families ; the Khobar Water Tower, a multi-storey structure with a revolving restaurant on top overlooking the city ; the Prince Sultan Science and Technology Center (SciTech), a science center offering five permanent exhibits each dedicated to a different branch of science ; and King Fahd Causeway, a 25 kilometers long bridge which connects Bahrain with the Kingdom.

Al-Khobar is served by the largest airport in the world in terms of surface area: King Fahd International Airport. The airport plot is about 77,600 hectares, which is slightly bigger than the country of Bahrain.

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