Khobar

al-Khobar
City View
al-Khobar
Coordinates: 26°17′N 50°12′E / 26.283°N 50.2°E / 26.283; 50.2Coordinates: 26°17′N 50°12′E / 26.283°N 50.2°E / 26.283; 50.2
Country	Saudi Arabia
Province	Khobar
Established	1940s
Joined Saudi Arabia 1940s
Government
- Mayor	Issam Al-Mulla
- Provincial Governor	Muhammed Bin Fahd
Population (2005)
- Total	170,000
	Dammam Municipality estimate
Postal Code	(5 digits)
Area code(s)	+966-3
Website	[1]

Khobar (also written al-Khobar or al-Khubar; Arabic: الخبر) is a large city located in the Eastern Province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the Persian Gulf. It has a population of 165,799 (2004 census) and forms part of the greater Dammam metropolitan area along with Dhahran, which together have a combined population of over one million. All three urban centers are served by the King Fahd International Airport.

Many of Khobar's residents work for Saudi Aramco, the world's largest oil company, in Al-Khobar. Traditionally, Khobar has also been a city of shopkeepers and merchants, and the city today boasts numerous modern malls and boulevards with internationally-recognized franchise shops and eating places. Together, Khobar, Dhahran and Dammam are often known as "the triplet cities".

In earlier days, Khobar was a small port on the Persian Gulf, 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, secondarily, 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 waterfront along the Persian Gulf into a scenic Beirut-like corniche with parks, eateries, and family beaches.

The 16 mile (26 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).

Education

First school in Khobar was established in 1942. Today there are more than 100 public and private general eduation schools in the city of Khobar. There are various foreign schools in Al-Khobar like the Pakistan International School which is the biggest school in the Eastern Province.

Shopping Malls

Khobar towers

• Al Rashid Mall : one of the biggest shopping malls in the region that was founded in 1994 and had further extension recently
• Mall Of Dhahran
• Jarer Mall
• Fouad Center
• Jumah Center
• Al Rahmaniya Center
• Khobar Mall
• Venissia Mall
• Galleria Plaza
• City Mall
• Grand Mall Of Khobar
• Jarir Plaza
• Alissa Souk

Hotels

There are many hotels and apartments for rent in the city .

• Dhahran International Hotel
• Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts
• Le Méridien hotel Al Khobar
• Holiday Inn
• Al-Gosaibi Hotel
• Intercontinental Hotel Al Khobar
• Coral International Hotel

Resorts

• Half Moon Beach
• Sunset Beach
• Holiday Inn Resort
• Bafana Beach
• Al Nakhil Resort

Restaurants and Fastfood chains

Khobar is known for its diverse and exotic restaurants.

• Chili's
• Pizza Hut
• Applebee's
• Hardee's
• McDonalds
• Burger King
• Steak House
• The Orient
• Sanbuke
• Amici Restaurant
• Italian Sea Food
• The Dhow
• Dajen
• Kodu
• KFC
• Dominos Pizza
• Pizza Inn
• Tikka House
• Tajhes
• Starbucks
• House Of Donuts
• Krispy Kreme
• Dunkin Donuts
• Jalapino
• Subway Restaurant
• Quiznos Sub
• Brasa
• Conezone
• Baskinrobins
• Gandola
• Madhina

Hospitals and Medical Care

There are three major hospitals in Khobar ,King Fahad University Hospital ,Khobar General Hospital and Saad Specialists Private Hospital. Following are some other major hospitals:

• Al Mana General Hospital
• Shifa Hospital
• Darusalam Dispencary
• Al Dossary Hospital
• Fakhry Hospital

Terrorism

Khobar has been the site of several terrorist attacks in recent times:

• 1996 Khobar Towers bombing by members of Hezbollah Al-Hejaz
• 2004 Khobar massacre by members of The Jerusalem Squadron

See also

• Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia
• Dammam
• Dhahran
• Dawasir
• King Fahd Causeway
• Al Rashid Mall

References

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