Coordinates	21°18′32″N157°49′34″N
official name	Ad Dammam
flag link	Flag_of_Saudi_Arabia
flag size	80px
image shield	Coat of arms of Saudi Arabia.svg
shield link	Coat of arms of Saudi Arabia
shield size	40px
pushpin map	Saudi Arabia |
map caption	Location in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia|
coordinates region	SA
subdivision type	Country
subdivision name
subdivision type1	Province
subdivision name1	Eastern Province
Leader title	Mayor
Leader name	Dhaifallah al-'Utaybi
Leader title1	Provincial Governor
Leader name1	Muhammed Bin Fahd
unit pref	Metric
area total km2	800
area total sq mi	308.9
population note	Dammam Municipality estimate
population as of	2009
population total	769,000
population metro	2,054,710
utc offset	+3
utc offset dst	DST not observed
postal code type	Postal Code
postal code	(5 digits)
area code	03
website	www.e-amana.gov.sa
Coordinates type	region:SA-04_type:city
Coordinates display	inline, title }}

Dammam (also Ad Dammām) () 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 Eastern Province and several government departments are located in the city. Dammam is the largest city in the Eastern Province and third largest in Saudi Arabia after Riyadh and Jeddah. It is an important commercial hub and port in Saudi Arabia.

Dammam, and the rest of the Eastern Province, is served by the King Fahd International Airport (KFIA), the largest airport in the world in terms of land area (approximately 780 km²), about 20 km to the northwest of the city.

Dammam's King Abdul Aziz Sea Port is the largest on the Persian Gulf. Its import-export traffic in the country is second only to Jeddah's port.

Etymology

The origins of the name "Dammam" is controversial, some say that it is onomatopoeic and it was given to the area because of a drum positioned in a nearby keep, when sounded for the alarm it produced a melody called "damdamah", others say that the name was given according to the Arabic word "dawwama" (whirlpool) which indicated a nearby sea site that Dhows usually had to avoid.

History

Dammam has ancient roots in history. Tombs, remnants of dwellings and historical references indicate that it was inhabited more than two thousand years ago. However, most vestiges of human habitation were buried by the encroaching desert sands and the area had been largely deserted for centuries.

Ad Dammam was first inhabited by a clan of Al Dossary tribe and a number of The Howela families in the early 1923. The families led by Sheikh Ahmed Ibn Abdullah ibn Hassan Al Dossary migrated from Bahrain and were given the chance to choose a land where to settle by HRM the late King Abdulaziz. Ad Dammam was immediately chosen for its vicinity to the island of Bahrain as the clan hoped to head back there soon, but the British rule in the region made it very hard for them to move in every sense (dividi et impera) so they finally realized they had to settle there for good. Years later, Sheikh Ahmed's brother moved south where he and his family settled in Al Khobar, which by that time was already inhabited. However this tiny episode gave to Khobar a population boost and close ties with the bigger city of Dammam.

When the modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was founded in 1932, the area was the site of several hamlets that depended on fishing and pearls for their survival. Over a span of a little more than half a century, the area has developed into a thriving hub of industry, commerce and science, and home to more than half a million people. The area's transformation was launched with the discovery of oil in commercial quantities. The Eastern Province sits atop one of the largest oil fields in the world, and it was here in Dhahran in 1936 that Aramco, the predecessor of the national oil company of Saudi Arabia, Saudi Aramco, dug the famous Dammam No. 7 well that proved beyond doubt that the Kingdom possessed a large supply of hydrocarbons.

The discovery of new oil fields to the south, west and north of Dammam in the 1940s and 1950s, which now account for a quarter of the world's proven oil reserves, triggered a building boom. Experts and technicians from throughout the Kingdom and the world gathered to help search for new oil fields and bring them on-stream. New pipelines had to be installed, storage facilities built and jetties constructed to handle tankers. The growing number of experts working in Dhahran required the building of housing, hospitals, schools for their children and other amenities. Before long, Dhahran, the corporate headquarters of Saudi Aramco, the largest oil company in the world, was spilling out into the desert in all directions. The growth of the oil industry in the region had a similar impact on the small fishing village of Dammam and the hamlet of Al-Khobar. Within two decades of the discovery of oil, the mudbrick huts of the fisherman that crowded the shore and which constituted the only permanent dwellings in the area had given way to concrete buildings, modern housing, highways and landscaped streets. Located to the east of Dhahran on the Persian Gulf coast, Al-Khobar briefly became the shipping point for Saudi Arabian crude oil to the refinery in Bahrain. In the years leading up to World War II, Saudi Arabian oil production was very limited, and since the company had no refinery of its own, most of the oil was sent by small tankers to Bahrain. With the construction of a pipeline to Bahrain and the subsequent expansion of the oil industry in the post-war years, the focus of the shipping and oil industries shifted away from Al-Khobar northward to Dammam and Ras Tanura, one of the largest oil storage and shipping centers in the world, located 25 km to the north of Dammam. As a result, Al-Khobar gradually found a new role as the commercial center for the entire region.

In the early 1980s Dammam, the capital of the Eastern Region, was a separate city but so close to Al Khobar and Dhahran that the traveler could pass from one to the other in a few minutes. The discovery of oil in Dhahran and nearby fields and the growing importance of the entire region affected Dammam more than any other city in Saudi Arabia. Within three decades, the sleepy little fishing village had become the capital of the Eastern Province. The simultaneous growth of Dammam, Dhahran and Al-Khobar brought the three jurisdictions into physical contact, the three towns inevitably merged into one, creating a single municipality known as the Dammam Metropolitan Area, referred to simply as the Dammam Area. Each of the three towns which compose the Dammam Area retain their own character and some local administrative functions but, in terms of its place in the Kingdom, the Dammam Area forms a single administrative entity.

The growth of the Saudi Arabian oil industry into the largest in the world brought about the rapid development of the region. As oil production increased, so did the number of people required to run the industry. The growing population needed more housing and services. First-rate hospitals and schools provided further incentives for people considering a move to the area. Service industries sprouted up to support the oil industry and meet the needs of people living in the Dammam Area. As a result, a region which had several hundred inhabitants some sixty years ago now boasts a population of well over 1.5 million, growing at a pace of over five percent a year.

The key to the success of the Dammam Area is that unlike oil towns in other parts of the world, it has developed in all spheres. It is now a modern urban and industrial center which happens to be the headquarters of the Saudi Arabian oil industry. As this sector was growing in the early years, the Saudi Arabian government took steps to facilitate the evolution of the Dammam Area. New roads and highways connected the area to other urban and industrial centers in the Kingdom. A railway line connected Dammam to the agricultural center of Al-Kharj and on to Riyadh. Dhahran International Airport was established between Dhahran and Al-Khobar to connect the region to other parts of the Kingdom and the world. To encourage the growth of non-oil industries, an industrial city was established in the open space between the three cities. Now home to more than 124 factories, the industrial complex is completely engulfed by an urban mass. As a result, a second industrial city was established further away from the Dammam Area along the highway to Riyadh. Located on nearly of land, the Second Industrial City is already home to 120 factories, with 160 others under construction. These plants manufacture a variety of consumer and industrial products that are marketed throughout the Kingdom and are exported to other countries around the world. Handling such exports, as well as imports from abroad, is the domain of shipping agents and commercial companies located in Dammam and Al-Khobar, making the Dammam Area not only a major oil producing and exporting area, but also a commercial and shipping center.

The growth of the region has necessitated the construction of a larger and more modern airport to replace the Dhahran International Airport which is now cramped for space. The new King Fahd International Airport, located to the west of Dammam, serves not only the Dammam Area but also the Jubail Industrial City, some to the north.

As it has in other parts of the Kingdom, the Ministry of Health has established several modern hospitals and a network of health care centers in the Dammam Area. These are supplemented by hospitals and clinics set up by the private sector.

Having been built from the ground up, the Dammam Area was designed from the outset on the principles of modern urban planning. Residential areas are separate from commercial sections, roads are broad and straight and buildings conform to a master plan. One of the main features of the development of the area is land reclamation. Vast stretches of the shallow Gulf waters have been filled, with hotels and office buildings occupying what were once marshes. Water for household, urban and industrial use is provided by desalination plants that supply approximately seven million cubic feet of treated water to the area each day. The availability of water underpins the urban and industrial growth of the Dammam Area, and provisions have been made for expanding existing desalination facilities to meet future growth.

The Dammam-Dhahran-Khobar area is a major hub for shipping, oil, commerce and industry. Tankers take on oil at the terminal in Ras Tanura. The Dammam Area is also famous for the wide variety of recreational facilities it offers residents and visitors alike.

In many ways, the Dammam Area has evolved as the link between Saudi Arabia and the outside world, exporting the Kingdom's products and importing its needs and thriving on the interaction between Saudi Arabia and other countries.

Geographical Districts

This list is incomplete.

Abdallah Fouad

Ad Dawaser

Al Adama

Al Ahmadiyyah

Al Amamrah

Al Amir Talal

Al Anoud

Al Arifi

Al Aziziyah

Al Badee

Al Badia

Al Eskaan

Al Faisaliah

Al Hamra

Al Itisalat

Al Jalawi

Al Jalawiyyah

Al Jam'iyyin

Al Khaleej

Al Khalidiya North

Al Khalidiya South

Al Khalidiyah Al Janubiah

Al Khalidiyah Al Shamalia

Al Marjan Island

Al Mazroeiah

Al Mohamadiah

Al Mubarkiyyah

Al Mutlaq

Al Nakheel

Al Naseriah

Al Qazzaz

Al Rakah al Shamalia

Al Rabee

Al Shatie Al Garbi

Al Shatie Al Sharqi

Al Shiraa

Al Souq/Al Souk

Al Toubaishi

Al Wahah

An Nakhil

Ash Shati

Corniche

Faisaliyat Ash Sharq

Ghannam

Ghurnata

Ibn Khaldoun

1st Industrial City

2nd Industrial City

King Abdul Aziz Sea Port

King Fahd District

Muhammad bin Saud

Muhammadiyah

Madinat Al Ummal

National Guard

Qadisiyah

Tarot Island

Al Rayyan (Andalusia)

Al-Manar

Anoud

Bader

Dana (حي الدانة)

Ether (الاثير)

Faiha (حي الفيحاء)

Flame (Alfajrip)

Hussam

Marina (Fanar)

Nawras (Petromin)

Palace

Ulaymaniyah

Yamama

Safa

Zahra

Climate

Dammam features an arid climate under Koppen's climate classification. Unlike other Saudi Arabian cities, Dammam retains its warm temperature in winter, which can range from +10 °C (59 °F) to +22 °C. However the temperature regularly drops to as low as around 0 °C some days. Summer temperatures are very hot and break the 40 °C (104 °F) mark and on some days the 50 °C mark. Though average summer temperatures usually lie between 40 °C to 45 °C.

Rainfall in Dammam is generally sparse, and usually occurs in small amounts in December. Though some winters rainfall has been comparatively heavy resulting in water logged roads. There have also been several notable incidents of hail. Heavy thunderstorms are not uncommon in winter. (The thunderstorm of December 2008 being the largest in recent memory, with rain reaching around 3 inches.)

Some unusual events often happen during the year, such as dust storms in summer, coming from the Arabian Peninsula's deserts or from North Africa.

''Note, the historical weather data below appears incorrect. Daytime temperatures in June, July, & August are rarely below 110F and often above 120F.''

Dammam Climatological Data

Month

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Year

Record high °C (°F)

Average high °C (°F)

Average low °C (°F)

Record low °C (°F)

Rainfall mm (in)

Transportation

Air

Dammam is served by the King Fahd International Airport, the largest airport in the world in terms of land area (approximately 780 km²). The terminal is about 25 km to the northwest of the city and is connected by an eight-lane highway. Other major cities that share this airport are Khobar, Dhahran and all other cities of the Eastern Province. Dammam is well connected by air with other cities in the Middle East, South Asia, South-East Asia, and Europe.

Sea

Dammam's King Abdulaziz Sea Port, located on the Persian Gulf coast, is the second largest port of Saudi Arabia. It was founded in the late 1940s. It has large equipment that allows it to receive various types of vessels. The most important equipment: 56 multi-purpose hoist, 8 container cranes, and 524 tanker containers. And a number of berths for ships and fishing, as well as ship repair yard.

Road

Eastern Province cities like Abqaiq, Dhahran, Hofuf, Jubail, Khafji, Khobar, Ras Tanura, Sihat and Qatif, as well as many cities in other parts of the Kingdom are linked with Dammam by 6 to 8-lane highways. Dammam is connected to the Saudi capital, Riyadh, by a national highway. It is also linked to Bahrain by the 28 km long King Fahd Causeway. Dammam also has highways to other Middle-Eastern countries such as Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Rail

The headquarters of the Saudi Railways Organization, Saudi Arabia's sole railway operator, is in Dammam. The passenger terminal in Dammam was the first in Saudi Arabia and built in 1981. It is considered to be a major terminal in the Saudi railway network. Saudi Railways Organization (SRO) operates a 449-kilometer passenger line that connects Dammam to Riyadh through Hofuf and Abqaiq. It also operates a 556-kilometer cargo line starting at King Abdul Aziz Port in Dammam and ending in a dry port in Riyadh, passing by Hofuf, Abqaiq, Al-Kharj, Haradh and Al-Tawdhihiyah. In addition, some 373 kilometers of auxiliary lines branch from SRO’s main lines to connect some industrial and agricultural areas and military sites with export ports and residential areas.

Two future railway projects connecting Dammam with Jeddah via Riyadh and Mecca in the western region and connecting Dammam with Jubail have been proposed.

Distances to nearby cities and Gulf States

Abqaiq : 70.82 km (44.01 miles)

Al Hasa : 121.28 km (75.36 miles)

Dhahran : 25.0 km

Jubail : 77.89 km (48.4 miles)

Khobar : 17.94 km (11.15 miles)

Riyadh : 394.89 km (245.37 miles)

Bahrain : 61.86 km (38.44 miles)

Qatar : 187.74 km (116.66 miles)

Culture

Cuisine

Dammam residents are a mix of several different ethnicities and nationalities. This mixture of races has made a major impact on Dammam's traditional cuisine.

Like other Saudi cities, The Nejdi Kabsa is popular among the people of Dammam, often made with chicken instead of lamb meat. The Yemeni Mandi is also popular as a lunch meal. Hejazi cuisine is popular as well and dishes like Mabshoor, Mitabbak, Foul, Areika, Hareisa, Kabab Meiroo, Shorabah Hareira (Hareira soup), Migalgal, Madhbi (chicken grilled on stone) Madfun (literally meaning buried), Magloobah, Kibdah, Manzalah (usually eaten at Eid ul-Fitr), Ma'asoob, Magliya (Hijazi version of Falafel), Saleeig (Hijazi dish made of milk rice), Hummus, Biryani, Ruz Kabli, Ruz Bukhari, Saiyadyia, can be acquired in many traditional restaurants around the city.

Grilled meat has a good market in Dammam such as Shawarma, Kofta and Kebab. During Ramadan Sambousak and Ful are the most popular meals during Dusk. These meals are almost found in Lebanese, Syrian, and Turkish restaurants.

International food is also popular in the city. American chains such as Pizza Hut, McDonald's, Burger King, Domino's Pizza and KFC, among others are widely distributed in Dammam, as are more upscale chains like Chili's, Applebee's and TGI Friday's. Due to the large number of South Asian immigrants, Indian, Pakistani, Chinese, Japanese, and other Eastern/Asian food are also popular. European restaurants, such as Italian and French, are also found throughout the city.

There are also local fast food chains such as Abu Nawas (serving mainly broasted chicken), Fillfilah and several others.

Sports

#Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium is multi-purpose stadium, but mostly used for football. It is the largest stadium in Dammam with a capacity for 35,000 people. It was founded in 1973. It is the home of the Saudi Professional League club, Al-Ettifaq. # Tennis Prince Mohammed Bin Fahd in Dammam Center. # Hall Green located in the city sports between Dammam and Al Khobar. # Club agreement and the famous b (Fares Dahna) is located in Sports City. # Renaissance and the famous (b giant Dammam) is located in Sports City as well.

Tourism

One of the most popular tourist attractions of the city of Dammam, is the Dammam Corniche.

Corniche Dammam

A panoramic view of natural beauty, Dammam Corniche forms part of the gigantic seaside project stretching from Aziziah Beach to Tarot Island. The Corniche has expanded greatly since around 2007. Interspersed along the Corniche are massive, modern art installations, which reflect the creativity of their makers and the nation's love of art. The Corniche is a local destination for families and friends for leisure time, especially in the evenings after work to enjoy. A spacious area between Dammam and Al Khobar has been designated specifically for sports and game facilities. Major clubs, which allow locals and expatriates alike to take part in sport, are located in this area. Water sports are available to all at the Coastal City set up by the General Presidency for Youth Welfare, which is now a commercial concern open to families, in Half Moon Bay to the south of the city, and through private clubs in the area.

Interface Dammam Navy

The longest sea interface in the kingdom and called it (Park Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah) and a length of 4.5 km and is located in the western part of the neighborhood west coast, and features spacious green spaces and beautiful fountains that come from the sea, increase beauty of the place at night as they contain investment sites dedicated to various activities under implementation including the establishment of market folklore (The caesarean section) and the construction of a pier (marina Dammam) and the draft (vehicles cruise) and the draft (the gym) for young people.

Coral Island

Where family fun sessions and specificity, the first island tourist industry in the UK and away from the Corniche, a distance of 1800 meters was established by Saudi Aramco adorned with towering field name (Lighthouse), where the visitor can climb to the above and watch to see what can be the eye of the features of the city, and became a place to relax and amateur fishing fish.

Half Moon Bay

Half Moon Bay, covering an area about 22 thousand hectares, is the one of most popular beaches in the region and gets its name from it’s semi-circular shape. It also has two amusement parks in the vicinity.

There are many spots where diving is possible along the Arabian Sea coastline, but few are attractive. South of Khobar at Half-Moon Bay is a site where a diver group has placed old trucks and cars in the water near shore, attempting to create an artificial reef. The spot is about 5 kilometers south of the Prince Mohammed Bin Fahd Amusement Park in an open coast area just past a public bathroom, and a private marina (shown above left). Pull off the road and park next to the covered picnic structures (shown above right) that have a raised concrete floor. A large tractor tire in the inter-tidal shallow water area marks the spot to begin the dive. This location sports various types of fish and many small shells. There is little if any coral growth here, and the vehicles seem to be covered in barnacles, but it remains an interesting dive. You can arrange diving here through Sharky's in Khobar or Durrah Dive Center in Jubail. There is a group of divers who meet here early on Friday mornings to dive

Heritage Centre Dammam

This museum depicts various aspects of regional life in Saudi Arabia. It also has a restaurant. Dammam Corniche. Regional Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography: Interesting collection of local Bedouin crafts, traditional costumes and Islamic pottery, as well as some Stone Age tools.

King Fahd International Airport (KFIA)

King Fahd International Airport (KFIA) is located 20 kilometers (about 12 miles) northwest of Dammam. It is the largest airport in the world in terms of land area (780 km²), thus making it larger than the nearby country of Bahrain. It was opened on November 28, 1999 to commercial traffic, and all airlines transferred their operations from the former Dhahran International Airport, which had been in use until then. The new Dammam airport serves the entire Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia and in particular the growing urban complex made up of Dammam, Dhahran, Al Khobar, Qatif, Ras Tanura, while its catchment area also covers Jubail. The airport is the third major hub for Saudi Arabian Airlines, it is also a hub for the Sama Airlines.

King Fahd Park

The King Fahd Park in Dammam is the largest in the Kingdom. King Fahd Park is located along the Dammam-Dhahran Express Road, north of the Gulf Palace and almost equidistant from the townships of Dammam and Al-Khobar. Spread over 1,120 million square meters in the heart of the Dammam Area, its millions of trees and bushes is a haven of greenery and many ornamental pools provide a refuge for families in the heart of the city. A large number of smaller parks are scattered throughout the area with scenic beauty, perfect places to spend evenings. The water for much of the parks comes from recycling urban and industrial runoff. The sprawling area of the park contains amenities for families, from children to elders alike. A central cafeteria serves fast food and drinks in a large sitting area for families. You will also find pools, man-made lagoons, artificial lakes, green spaces, large waterfalls, fountains, greenery, and buildings - all designed to offer soothing relief. Within the park, Saudi Amusement Center caters to the entertainment of children one of the largest parks in the region. Extremely modern in concept and design and run by professionals, the center boasts an exciting train ride to take visitors around the park.

Kind Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals

Several hundred modern primary and secondary schools provide all residents of the Dammam Area with access to free education. The region boasts several colleges and is also the site of one of the most modern universities in the Middle East. The King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, located in Dhahran, offers graduate and post-graduate degrees in engineering, applied engineering, science, industrial management, environmental design and other fields. It also runs a state-of-the-art center where scientists conduct research on a variety of topics, from geology to computer design. Additionally, two of King Faisal University's Colleges, medicine and architecture and urban planning, are located in Dammam.

King Abdul Aziz Seaport

A modern port complex, known as the King Abdul Aziz Seaport, was built at Dammam to handle non-oil shipping. The Dammam-Riyadh railway and highways connect the port to points throughout the Kingdom. The complex is equipped with four jetties, the longest being two miles (3 km), hundreds of cranes and lifts, storage facilities, a ship repair dock and a modern ship traffic control center. The complex is now the Kingdom's largest outlet to the sea in eastern Saudi Arabia.

National Museum

Dammam National Museum is located on the 4th floor of the Dammam Public Library, opposite the Muhammad bin Fahd Stadium on the cross lane from the Dammam-Khobar Highway in Al Toubaishi district. A must for visitors to the region, the museum focuses on the country's history, culture, and inhabitants through displays of relics and remnants of handicrafts.

Amusements Parks

Al Hokair Fun Lake (Happy Land)

Half Moon Bay Amusement Park

Fun City

City of Gulf entertainment (Cobra).

The world of recreational adventures.

Art of Time Recreational Park.

Village dolphin entertainment.

Park Mount Almreekpat.

Zoo within Mintz, King Fahd.

King Fahd Amusement Park.

Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Amusement Park.

Besides these, almost every mall in Dammam has a section dedicated to rides and amusements for children. Al Shatea Mall, for example, features an indoor artificial ice skating rink and an amusement park.

Hotels

Sheraton Dammam Hotel and Towers, 1st Street

Al Arifi Hotel, King Faisal 9th Street

Al Batha

Al Dossary Hotel

Al Nemer Hotel, 1st Street facing Al Andalus Garden

Asia Hotel

Balhamar Hotel

Balqees Throne Hotel

Carlton Mobeid Hotel

The Dammam Hotel

Marriott International Hotel

Dammam Palace Hotel

Golden Tulip Al Hamra (formerly Holiday Inn), King Khalid street

Gulf Flower Hotel

Hotel Al Jaber

Hotel Haramain

Novotel Dammam

Palace Hotel Dhahran

Safari Hotel

Ramada Dammam Hotel And Suites

Tulip Inn Dammam

Uraifey

Resorts and chalets

Chalets cottage sea Dammam Corniche.

Resort beach club on the Corniche Dammam as well.

Leisure resort within the city of Prince Mohammed bin Fahd's half-moon beach.

Half Moon Resort.

Shopping

Dammam is frequented by shoppers from the eastern region due to the large commercial complexes, malls and shops selling diverse goods and brands.

Al Bilad Mall

Al Danah Mall

Al Othaim Mall

Al Shatea Mall

Al Waha Mall

Carrefour (Hypermarket)

Centre Point

City Max

Debbenhams

eXtra (Electronics Store)

Farm Superstores

Giant Stores

Green Shopping Centre

Hayat Plaza

Home Shopping

IKEA

Jarir Bookstore

Ladies Mall

Last Chance

Lulu Hypermarket

Marina Mall

Marks & Spencer

Nesto (Hypermarket)

Obeikan Bookstore

Panda and HyperPanda

PC Net

Ramez Shopping Centre

Sheera Mall

Tamimi Markets (Safeway)

The Baby Shop

Ibn Khaldoun Plaza

Many other malls, complexes and hypermarkets are under construction in the city.

Markets

There are many traditional markets called ''Souq'' as well as modern markets in Damamam including :

Dammam Auction Market

Al Souq (Dammam Market)

Souq El-Hob (Arabic: سوق الحب - حي الدواسر)

Souq Mecca (Arabic: سوق مكة الشعبي - حي السوق)

Souq El Harraj (Similar to Sunday's Markets in the West) (Arabic: سوق الحراج)

Souq El Dammam (Arabic: سوق الدمام )

Restaurants and Fast Food chains

Abu Nawas

Akbar Al Bukhari Restaurant

Al Bahar Restaurant

Al Bokhari Restaurant

Al Diwan (Arabic), Khazzan St.

Al Khayam Restaurant (Indian), 10^thStreet Al Adama

Al Manarah (Arabic/Turkish), King Saud St

Al Sheikh (Arabic), located at Al Arifi Hotel

Al Shahrour Restaurant

Al Tazaj Fakieyah

Applebee's

Asahi Pan Asian (Chinese/Japanese)

Asia Hotel

Baba Habbas

Basmah

BR BR

Burger King

Cairo (Egyptian), Hospital St

Catcoot

Chicken Tikka

China Garden (Chinese)

CoCo Restaurant, Ibn Khaldoon st.

Copper Chandni (Indian)

Corniche Restaurant

Crispy Meal

Dammam Palace Hotel

Da Vinci, (Italian), located at Sheraton Dammam Hotel & Towers

Domino's Pizza

Fayrouz (International), located at Sheraton Dammam Hotel & Towers

Fillfillah

Fresh Broasted

Friends Restaurant (Indian)

Garnish Restaurant

Ghazi Restaurant (Pakistani)

Grill Room, located at the Golden Tulip Al Hamra Hotel

Hardee's

Herfy

Hungry Bunny

Horizon indian @ chinese

IKEA Restaurant, located at IKEA

Jollibee (Filipino)

Kabana (Pakistani)

Kababish Restaurant (Pakistani)

Kerala (Indian), Prince Mohamed St.

KFC

Kudu

Lulu Restaurant

Lyalina Restaurant

Lefana Restaurant

Madina & MAS Group Restaurants

Madura Restaurant( Tamil Nadu), Dawaser

Mamma Mia (Italian), Nasser Road

Mandi Quick Meal, King Saud St.

Meswar

New Thanjai Restaurant

McDonalds

Oceana (Indian)

Paragon (Indian)

Peking Noodles

Popeyes

The Pizza Company

Pizza Hut

Pizza Inn

Quick Meal Restaurant

Shawaya Restaurant (AL Khobar)

Cafés, Pastries and Parlours

Al Kholoud Automatic Bakery

Schools

# Bangladesh International School, Dammam # International Indian School Dammam # Orbit Academy # Dammam International School # Dunes International School

Universities and Colleges

# University of Dammam (Branch of King Faisal University previously). # Arab Open University. # Technical College for students. # Community College (King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals). # Tomorrow International College for Health Sciences. # Academy of ports for maritime studies and technical assistance. # Academy of Health Sciences. # Academic education. # Scientific Institute (University of Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud). # Health Institute. # Technical Institute, the Saudi Petroleum Services. # Institute of Beauty Specialist, Science and Technology (girls). # Higher Institute of Engineering and Petroleum. # Training Institute, the main electricity company in Saudi Arabia. # Services Institute of Petroleum and natural gas. # Institute of Public Administration (a branch of the eastern region). # Technical Institute of Naval Studies (RSNF-TINS). # Amal Institute for Deaf Girls. # Vocational training institute. # Institute of Education property. # Industrial Secondary Institute. # Al-Ghad International Medical Science Colleges.

Hospitals and Medical Care

# Al Ahmadi Medical Dispensary # Al Amal Psychiatric Hospital (famous for dealing with drug abuse and addiction) # Al Dukair Clinic # Al Mana Hospital # Al Mouwasat Hospital # Al Rai Medical Dispensary # Al Rawdah # Astoon Hospital # Badr Al Rabie # Chest Hospital # Dammam Central Hospital # Dammam National Hospital # General Security Hospital # Imam Abdulrahman Al Faisal Hospital # King Fahad Specialist Hospital # Maternity & Children Hospital # Magrabi Eye and Ear # Najd & Hijaz # Internal Security Forces Hospital. # Tadawi Hospital # Tower Dammam Medical Center # Hospital kindergarten year. # Dammam Hospital Alt_khasisi World # Dipsomania Center of Ophthalmology. # Center Al Saif of Ophthalmology. # Moroccan Center of Ophthalmology and the ear.

Streets

Al Mustashfa Street

King Abdul-Aziz Street: the coastline of the city of Dammam, where it passes on the Corniche III Corniche and the old and

the waterfront of old and new waterfront.

King Abdullah Street

King Fahd Street: a REDCAP Total Car Care Center flies Saudi Arabia's tallest flag: a 9 m × 6 m flag atop a 60+ m mast.

King Khaled Street

King Saud Street

Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Street: dividing the city into two halves (north-east, south-west) and start from the north-eastern city of Dammam (Corniche) and Corniche is divided into two sections (the eastern shore district, district of the west coast) and ends in the city of Dhahran, with Traffic southwest of Dammam.

By Ibn Khaldun King Fahd: up to the city of Dammam, Khobar and the airport, and Riyadh.

Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz Street: This route starts from the north of Dammam, and ends at South Street through Dammam King Abdul Aziz, Saud, Khalid, Fahd.

Reservoir Street: Street-Yamani was called at the time of King Abdul Aziz and the street name was changed in the era of King Saud, and the street is the oldest streets of the tank and called Dammam Street reservoir to a reservoir adjacent to the old, and now called the 18th Street.

See also

Dhahran

Eastern Province

Khobar

King Fahd Causeway

King Fahd International Airport

List of deep water ports

Saudi Ports Authority

References

Further reading

Dammam Capital city in Eastern Province, (1998). (ISBN 0-300-05536-6)

Dammam King Fahd International Airport (1999). (ISBN 0812931076)

External links

Municipality of Dammam Official website (in Arabic)

King Fahd International Airport Flight Informations to and from Dammam Airport

A travel through the Eastern Province, Splendid Arabia: A travel site with photos and routes

Category:Geography of Saudi Arabia Category:Populated coastal places in Saudi Arabia Category:Port cities and towns in Saudi Arabia Category:Port cities and towns of the Persian Gulf Category:Populated places in Saudi Arabia Category:Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia Category:Saudi Arabia articles needing attention

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Coordinates	21°18′32″N157°49′34″N
Name	Fahd bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud
Native name
Title	King of Saudi ArabiaCustodian of the Two Holy MosquesPrime Minister of Saudi Arabia
Succession	King of Saudi Arabia
Reign	13 June 1982 – 1 August 2005(''23 years, 49 days'')
Coronation	13 June 1982
Cor-type	Bayaa
Predecessor	Khalid
Successor	Abdullah
Succession1	1st Minister of Education
Reign1	1953 - 1962
Reign-type1	In Office
Successor1	Abdulaziz bin Mohammad Al al-Shaikh
Succession2	6th Minister of Interior
Reign2	1962 - 1975
Reign-type2	In Office
Successor2	Naif bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
Predecessor2	Faisal ibn Turki I Al Saud
Issue	Faisal bin Fahd, Sultan bin FahdMuhammad bin Fahd, Saud bin FahdKhaled bin Fahd, Abdul-Aziz bin Fahd
House	House of Saud
Father	Abdulaziz
Mother	Hessa Bint Ahmed AlSudairy
Birth date	16 March 1921
Birth place	Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Death date	August 01, 2005
Death place	King Faisal Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Date of burial	1 August 2005
Place of burial	Al Oud, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Cause of death	acute pnemonia on top of mulitble cva .

Fahd bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, (16 March 1921 – 1 August 2005) was the King of the Saudi Arabia from 1982-2005. One of forty-five sons of Saudi founder Ibn Saud, and the fourth of his five sons who have ruled the Kingdom (Saud, Faisal, Khalid, Fahd, and Abdullah), Fahd ascended to the throne on the death of his half-brother, King Khalid, on 13 June 1982.

Fahd was appointed Crown Prince when Khalid succeeded their half-brother King Faisal, who was assassinated in 1975. Fahd was viewed as the ''de facto'' prime minister during King Khalid's reign in part due to the latter's ill health.

Fahd suffered a debilitating stroke on 29 November 1995, after which he was unable to continue performing his full official duties. His half-brother, Abdullah, the country's Crown Prince, served as ''de facto'' regent of the kingdom and succeeded Fahd as monarch upon his death on 1 August 2005.

King Fahd is credited for having introduced the Basic Law of Saudi Arabia in 1992.

Early life

At the age of 11 in 1932, Fahd watched as his father officially founded the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by signing the Treaty of Jeddah.

Fahd's education took place at the Princes' School in Riyadh, a school established by Ibn Saud specifically for the education of members of the House of Saud. While at the Princes' School, Fahd studied under tutors including Sheikh Abdul-Ghani Khayat.

In 1945 Fahd travelled on his first state visit to New York City to attend the opening session of the General Assembly of the United Nations. On this trip Fahd served under his brother, King Faisal, who was at the time Saudi Arabia's foreign minister.

Early political positions

In 1953, at the age of 32, Fahd was appointed Education Minister by his father. Also in 1953, Fahd led his first official state visit, attending the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II on behalf of the House of Saud.

Fahd had two brothers born before him, Nasir and Saad, who had prior claims to the throne but both were considered unsuitable candidates. By contrast, Fahd had served as minister of education from 1953 to 1960 and minister of interior from 1962 to 1968.

Fahd lead the Saudi delegation to the League of Arab States in 1959, signifying his increasing prominence in the House of Saud — and that he was being groomed for a more significant role.

In 1962, Fahd was given the important post of Interior Minister and six years later he was the first person appointed to the position of Second Deputy Prime Minister. After the death of King Faisal in 1975, Fahd was named first deputy Prime Minister and concurrently Crown Prince.

Family and progeny

King Fahd was married at least four times, . He had six sons and three daughters. His sons were:

Faisal bin Fahd bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud (1946–1999) Died of a heart attack. Director-general of Youth Welfare (1971–99), Director-general at Ministry of Planning and Minister of State (1977–1999).

Khalid bin Fahd bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud (born 1947).

Muhammad bin Fahd bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud (born 1950), governor of the Eastern province.

Saud bin Fahd bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud (born 1950), former deputy president of the General Intelligence Directorate.

Sultan bin Fahd bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud (born 1951), Army Officer. Elevated to ministerial rank in November 1997. Current head of Youth Welfare.

Abdul-Aziz bin Fahd bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, (born 1971), Fahd's favorite and youngest son and minister of state without portfolio. He is the son of Princess Jawhara al-Ibrahim, Fahd's fourth and, reportedly, favorite wife.

Reign

On 25 March 1975, King Faisal was assassinated by his nephew and King Khalid assumed power. Fahd, as next in the line of succession, became Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister. Especially in the later years of King Khalid's reign, Fahd was viewed as the ''de facto'' prime minister. When King Khalid died on 13 June 1982, Fahd succeeded to the throne. He adopted the title "Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques" in 1986, replacing "His Majesty", to signify an Islamic rather than secular authority.

Foreign policy

He was a supporter of the United Nations. He supported foreign aid and had given 5.5% of Saudi Arabia's national income through various funds especially the Saudi Fund for Development and the OPEC Fund for International Development. He had also given aid to foreign groups such as the Bosnian Muslims in the recent Yugoslav Wars, as well as the Nicaraguan Contras, providing "a million dollars per month from May to December 1984." King Fahd had also been a strong supporter of the Palestinian cause and an opponent of the State of Israel. Fahd was staunch ally of the United States, and once said "After Allah, we can count on the United States."

===Grand Mosque Seizure, Iran, and Islamic education=== The 1979 Revolution in Iran radically transformed the political landscape in the Middle East, as the hereditary monarchy of the Shah of Iran was deposed in favor of a Shi'a theocracy. In the same year, anti-monarchist dissidents in Saudi Arabia seized the Grand Mosque in Mecca, and accused the Saudi royal family of being insufficiently Islamic and so unfit to rule the Kingdom. Fearing that the 1979 Revolution in Iran could lead to similar Islamic upheaval in Saudi Arabia, Fahd spent considerable sums after ascending the throne in 1982 to support Saddam Hussein's Iraq in its war with Iran. He also changed his royal title to "custodian of the two holy mosques", and took steps to support the conservative Saudi religious establishment, including spending millions of dollars on religious education, further distancing himself from his inconvenient past.

Recreational activities

At the same time as King Fahd presided over a more strict Islamic policy at home he was known to enjoy luxurious living abroad, even in ways that would not be allowed in his own kingdom. He visited the ports of the French Riviera, in his yacht, the $100 million Abdul Aziz. The ship featured two swimming pools, a ballroom, a gym, a theater, a portable garden, a hospital with an intensive-care unit and two operating rooms, and four American Stinger missiles. The king also had a personal $150 million Boeing 747 jet, equipped with his own fountain. In his visits to London he reportedly lost millions of dollars in the casinos and even was known to circumvent the curfew imposed by British gaming laws by hiring his own blackjack and roulette dealers to continue gambling through the night in his hotel suite.

Persian Gulf War, 1991

After Iraqi forces under Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait, placing the Middle East's largest Army at the time, on the border of Saudi Arabia. King Fahd agreed to host coalition troops, led by the United States, in his Kingdom, and later to allow American troops to be based there. This decision brought him considerable criticism and opposition from his people who objected to the presence of foreign troops on Saudi land, and is a casus belli against the Saudi royal family prominently cited by Osama bin Laden and Al-Qaeda.

Reform and industrialization

In regards to reform, King Fahd showed little tolerance for reformists. In 1992, a group of reformists and prominent Saudi intellectuals petitioned King Fahd for wide ranging reforms, including widening political representation, and curbing the royal family's wasteful spending. King Fahd first responded by ignoring their requests and when they persisted, reformists were harshly persecuted, imprisoned and fired from their jobs.

During King Fahd's rule, the royal family's lavish spending of the country's wealth reached its height. In addition, the biggest and most controversial military contracts of the century, the Al Yamamah was signed under his watch. The contract has cost the Saudi treasury more than $90 billion. These funds were originally allocated to building hospitals, schools, universities and roads. As a result, Saudi Arabia has endured a stagnation in infrastructure development from 1986 till the 1999 when the new King, Abdullah, became fully in control.

Like all the countries overlooking the Persian Gulf, Saudi Arabia under King Fahd has focused its industrial development on hydrocarbon installations. Up to this day, the country is reliant on imports for nearly all its light and heavy machinery.

Rule after the 1995 stroke

King Fahd was a heavy smoker, overweight for much of his adult life, and in his sixties began to suffer from arthritis and severe diabetes. He suffered a debilitating stroke in 1995 and became noticeably frail, and decided to delegate the running of the Kingdom to Crown Prince Abdullah. On 21 February 1996 he reassumed official duties. Though after his stroke King Fahd was partly inactive, though he still attended meetings and received selected visitors. In November 2003, according to government media, King Fahd was quoted as saying to "strike with an iron fist" at terrorists after deadly bombings, although he could hardly utter a word because of his debilitating stroke and deteriorating health. However, it is Crown Prince Abdullah who took official trips; when King Fahd traveled it was for vacations, and he was sometimes absent from Saudi Arabia for months at a time. When his oldest son and International Olympic Committee member Prince Faisal bin Fahd died in 1999, the King was in Spain and did not return for the funeral.

Awards

King Fahd was awarded with Azerbaijani Istiglal Order for his contributions to development of Azerbaijan-Saudi Arabia relations and strategic cooperation between the states by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on March 7, 2005.

Death

King Fahd was admitted to the King Faisal Specialist Hospital in the capital, Riyadh on 27 May 2005 for unspecified medical tests. An official (who insisted on anonymity) told the Associated Press unofficially that the king had died at 7:30 EDT on 1 August 2005. A member of the cabinet publicly announced his death on Saudi TV the same morning, and said that he died of pneumonia and a high fever.

Funeral

He was buried in the last ''thobe'' (traditional Arab robe) he wore. Fahd’s body was carried to Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque, and funeral prayers were held at around 3:30 local time (12:30 GMT). The prayers for the late monarch were led by the Kingdom’s grand mufti, Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al Sheikh.

The "funeral prayer", during which mourners remain standing, was recited after afternoon prayers. The ceremony was replicated in other mosques across the vast kingdom, where the "prayers for the absentee" were held.

The body was carried by King Fahd's son, Prince Abdul Aziz bin Fahd, to the mosque and to the Al-Oud cemetery some two kilometers away, a public cemetery where Fahd’s four predecessors and other members of the Al Saud ruling family are buried.

Arab and Muslim dignitaries who attended the funeral were not present at the burial. Only ruling family members and Saudi citizens were on hand as the body was lowered into the grave.

Muslim leaders offered condolences at the mosque, while other foreign dignitaries and leaders who came after the funeral paid their respects at the royal court.

According to the regulations and social traditions of the Kingdom, Saudi Arabia did not declare a national mourning period. Also, all government offices and public buildings were open as usual and the state flag was not lowered (since the flag of Saudi Arabia bears the ''Shahada'', the Islamic declaration of faith, the flag's protocol requires the flag to not be lowered)

After his death, many countries declared mourning periods. Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Syria, Yemen, the Arab League in Cairo, and the Palestinian Authority all declared three-day mourning periods. Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates declared a seven-day mourning period and ordered all flags flown at half-staff. In Jordan, a national three-day mourning period was declared and a 40-day mourning period was decreed at the Royal Court.

Many foreign dignitaries attended the funeral, such as Vice President Dick Cheney, President Jacques Chirac. King Juan Carlos, Prince Charles, President Pervez Musharraf, King Abdullah II, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the Singapore Senior Minister, SM Goh Chok Tong, Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya.

Wealth

His wealth was estimated to be at $80 billion.

Wives

Janan Harb (Divorced)

HH Princess AL Anood Bint Abdulaziz Bin Mousad AL Saud mother of Prince Faisal Bin Fahd (Deceased)

HH Princess AL Joharah Bint Ibrahem AL Ibrahem mother of Prince Abdulaziz Bin Fahd

HH Princess Joza'a Bint Abdullah Bin Abdulrahman Al Saud

HH Princess Al Joharah Bint Abdullah Al Sudairi (Deceased)

HH Princess Modhi Bint Turky Bin Abdullah Al Saud (Divorced)

HH Princess Turfa Bint Abdulaziz Bin Mo'amar (Divorced)

HH Princess Watfa Bint Obaid Bin Ali Al Jabr Al Rasheed (Divorced)

HH Princess Lolwa Al Abdulrahman Al Muhana Aba Al Khail (Divorced)

HH Princess Shaikha Bint Turky Bin Mariq Al Thit (Divorced)

HH Princess Seeta Bint Ghunaim Bin Sunaitan Abu Thnain (Divorced)

See also

King Fahd International Airport

King Fahd Causeway

King Fahd University for Petroleum and Minerals

Malek Fahd Islamic School

Soccer tournaments

FIFA Confederations Cup (former King Fahd Cup)

King Fahd Cup 1992

King Fahd Cup 1995

References

External links

King Fahd Tribute Page

Twenty Years of King Fahd from ArabNews.

Saudi King Fahd is laid to rest (BBC News, 2 August 2005)

Obituaries

* (BBC News, 1 August 2005)

* (''The Times'', 2 August 2005)

International editorial reaction to Fahd's death

*Late Saudi King Fahd Modernized Kingdom

(Saudi-American Forum, 16 January 2004)

Fahd bin Abdul Aziz Category:Recipients of the Royal Victorian Chain Category:1921 births Category:2005 deaths Category:Deaths from stroke Category:Prime Ministers of Saudi Arabia Category:Government ministers of Saudi Arabia

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