Dammam is a bustling metropolis on the shores of the Persian Gulf. It is the capital of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia and the fourth-most populous city in the kingdom. Home to a metropolitan population of 1,353,000 as of 2024, Dammam serves as the nucleus of the Dammam Metropolitan Area, a thriving urban agglomeration that encompasses the interconnected cities of Dhahran and Khobar, collectively known as the 'Triplet Cities.' Dammam is the fourth-largest metropolitan area in both size and population within the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Renowned as a pivotal administrative center for the Saudi oil industry, Dammam has registered about 12% per year. The city's ascent to prominence began in the early 20th century when the Dawasir tribe settled the area, transforming a humble fishing hamlet into a strategic port city and administrative hub, catalysed by the discovery of oil. Following the unification of Saudi Arabia, Dammam was designated as the capital of the newly formed Eastern Province.
Dammam plays a crucial role in international trade through its King Abdul Aziz Sea Port, ranking as the largest port on the Persian Gulf and second only to Jeddah Islamic Port in the Middle East and North Africa in import-export traffic. The city is also a key aviation hub, served by the expansive King Fahd International Airport, the world's largest airport by land area. As a member of the World Energy Cities Partnership (WECP), Dammam is a global player in the energy sector.
The eastern province of Saudi Arabia is mainly known for a large number of oil fields present in the region. It is the fifth-most populous city in Saudi Arabia after Jeddah, Riyadh, Makkah, and Al-Madinah.
It was the year 1938 when the major reserves of oil and natural gas were first discovered. The discovery of this liquid gold channelised major industrial growth in the city that resulted in the development of commercial and administrative centres in the city. Apart from having major hubs of oil and natural gas, Ad-Dammam is also a major seaport for trade business in the country.
The city has been fully developed since the 1940s and has a modern layout with brimming suburbs. Even though oil and natural gas are the main industry in Ad-Dammam, the city also has various agriculture and dairy farms.
The cities of Dammam, Al Khobar, and Dhahran collectively form the Dammam metropolitan area. The whole area was once a fishing village before the discovery of the oil wells and natural gas reserves that sparked the start of industrialisation.
With the industrial growth and discovery of oil wells, the city has become a world-leader in the oil industry and occupies the fourth rank in gas reserves.
The capital of the eastern province of Saudi Arabia, Ad-Dammam acts as a major link to the other states in the Gulf like Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Oman, and Bahrain.
The city's origins trace back to 1866 when the British attempted to capture the fort of Dammam, controlled by the Emirate of Nejd, during an attack that ultimately failed. However, the foundational chapter of Dammam commenced in 1923 when the Al Dawasir tribe, migrating from Bahrain, settled in the area with the permission of King Abdul Aziz. Initially residing in Khobar due to its proximity to Bahrain, the tribe's connection with the larger city of Dammam strengthened over time.
The period from the 1930s to the 1940s marked a transformative phase for Dammam as the search for oil resources intensified. Drilling wells began in 1933, following an oil concession agreement signed between King Abd al-Aziz Al Saud's government and The Standard Oil Company of California. The discovery of oil fields in the 1940s and 50s catapulted Dammam into a construction boom. The Al Bin Ali family played a crucial role in this development, contributing to the expansion of Aramco and undertaking key projects such as road construction, including Highway 40 connecting Dammam to Riyadh.
The subsequent decades witnessed rapid growth, with the population surpassing 1.5 million. Dammam evolved into a modern urban and industrial center, hosting the administration of the Saudi oil industry. The Saudi government facilitated this growth through infrastructure development, establishing new roads, highways, and a railway line connecting Dammam to Riyadh. The city's expansion extended beyond oil-related activities, with the establishment of industrial cities and diverse non-oil industries.
Strategic urban planning principles guided the development of the Dammam Area, separating residential and commercial zones and constructing broad, well-organised roads. Land reclamation from the Persian Gulf contributed significantly to the city's expansion, and desalination plants provided a vital water supply for urban and industrial growth. Dammam is a member of the World Energy Cities Partnership (WECP).
Ad-Dammam operates independently without being governed by a specific governorate, recognised simply as the City of Dammam. In the broader Saudi Arabian administrative landscape, King Salman Al Saud serves as the current Prime Minister, holding a key position in the national governance structure. The influential crown prince in the region is Mohammad Bin Salman, contributing significantly to the direction and policies of the kingdom.
Within the Eastern Province and specifically the City of Dammam, the governance is overseen by Prince Saud bin Nayef as the governor, while Prince Ahmed Bin Fahd assumes the role of deputy governor. This local leadership plays a pivotal role in steering the city's development, fostering regional initiatives, and ensuring effective governance for the residents of Dammam and the broader Eastern Province.
Dammam, as the capital of the Eastern Province in Saudi Arabia, is a crucial player in the Saudi oil industry, hosting major administrative centers and serving as a strategic hub for oil-related activities. Its strategic location on the Persian Gulf positions Dammam as a key player in international trade and commerce. The city's business landscape is diverse, encompassing sectors such as petrochemicals, logistics, finance, and real estate. With a focus on economic diversification, initiatives like the King Salman Energy Park (Spark) aim to attract investments, fostering innovation and sustainable growth in sectors beyond oil.
The Government of Saudi Arabia introduced economic reforms to bring ease of doing business in the country. The city has seen a surge in infrastructure development, including the expansion of King Fahd Industrial Port, which enhances its capacity for import and export activities. The establishment of industrial zones, free trade zones, and investment incentives has further stimulated entrepreneurship and foreign investments.
The government is also growing its focus on entrepreneurship and innovation. Initiatives like the creating innovation and entrepreneurship courses provide aspiring business owners with the necessary skills and resources to establish and grow their ventures. The city's economic growth is propelled by a thriving private sector, with businesses ranging from small startups to large corporations.
Ad-Dammam is the capital of the eastern province of Saudi Arabia and is also known as the epicentre for oil production and natural gas reserves. The main industry is the Saudi Aramco which looks after the production of oil and natural gas sector in the whole area.
The main economy of the city is dependent on the petroleum industry. A large group of people from the total population work for Saudi Aramco, thus generating major per capita income from the petroleum industry itself.
Dammam is connected to major cities of the world through the King Fahd International Airport. The airport is the largest in terms of the total land area and started operating from the year 1999. Apart from this, there are other airports which include Ahsa International Airport and Qaisumah-Hafr Al Batin Airport.
The city also has a major port that is operating since the 1940s. The King Abdulaziz Seaport on the Persian Gulf is the second largest in the country after the Jeddah Islamic Port. A large variety of import and export work is carried out through these ports.
The Saudi Arabian Public Transport Company (SAPTCO) also several intercity buses operating in the area. There is also planning to construct Dammam metro the status of which is still unknown.
Ad-Dammam's main transformation came after the large varieties of oil and natural gas reserves were found out. Since then, the area has collectively transpired into a thriving hub of growth.
As the oil industries drove a significant portion of the economy in the city, other sectors also saw the light of the day. The rapid industrialisation leads to the growth of many hospitals, schools, colleges, hotels, and office buildings.
Ad-Dammam today is known as the major hub, which helps in the trade facilities between Saudi Arabia with other nations of the world.
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