Dammam

If you are going for Riyadh tourism, make sure to check out the popular destinations near Riyadh including Abha, Dhahran, Dammam, Hofuf, Taif, Jubail, and so on. Riyadh is the capital city of Saudi Arabia, situated in the very interior of the country, 300 km from the Persian Gulf and 900 km from the Red Sea. History of Riyadh enlightens us that originally the city was located along a green river bed, which, in addition to sources of underground water allowed a rich agriculture. The culture of Riyadh is influenced by the raging deserts and mountains around it, as will be evident from the people here.

Dammam near Riyadh is the capital and largest city of the Eastern Province, Dammam Port being one of the largest on the Persian Gulf. Other cities that surround Dammam are Khobar and Dhahran, all of which together have a population of 2 million. Of them 750,000 live in the city of Dammam. One of the local attractions here is the Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium. The city lies on the tip of land stretching out into the Persian Gulf. A major seaport, it is also a center for petroleum and natural gas. There is some agriculture here dealing with livestock and dairy products. Dammam is also the terminus of the railroad to Riyadh.

Previously Dammam was a small coastal community living off fishing and some agriculture. After discovery of oil reserves in the region, the scenario changed. With the gradual expansion the three cities of Dammam, Al Khobar and Dhahran merged to form a single community, known as Dammam Area. The most popular recreation area in Dammam is the cornice which stretches from Az-Azziziah beach to Tarot Islands. The road is dotted with many open air artworks. The nearby King Fahd Park contains cafeterias, pools, lagoons, fountains and an amusement center. Other interesting locations here are Dammam National Museum, Half Moon Beach, and the old hood where once the Dawasir lived (harat al-dawasir al-quadimah).

A visit to this modern city will take you on a colorful trip through cultures and traditions of various lands and people.