About Sharqia

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was founded by King Abdulaziz Al Saud, marking the beginning of a unified Saudi state. This historical era laid the groundwork for comprehensive future development. During this period, Saudi Arabia signed an oil concession agreement with Standard Oil of California (now Saudi Aramco), which paved the way for the exploration and production of oil.

Several oil fields were discovered during this time, such as the Ghawar field in the Eastern Province, which is the largest oil field in the world. Refineries were built to process oil and produce petroleum products, and an extensive network of pipelines was developed to export oil and gas to global markets.

In 1947, King Abdulaziz entrusted Aramco with the construction of the Dammam Port, a 10-kilometer-long gateway for trade and oil exports. This marked a turning point in the region's economy and established it as a global hub for the oil industry.

With the beginning of the 1960s, rapid development took place throughout the Kingdom, benefiting from the emerging oil economy. The Eastern Province, in particular, witnessed the establishment of a resilient infrastructure. Roads, schools, and hospitals were built, and development efforts also included the construction of ports, roads, and the expansion of oil production facilities.

In 1963, the Jubail Industrial Port Development Project was launched, which is one of the largest projects that contributed to transforming the region into a global industrial hub. The first oil refinery in Jubail began operations in 1967, resulting in accelerated industrial growth in the area.

The Kingdom witnessed significant development in various fields during this period, which was one of the most prominent periods of economic and social development in the country's history. Development efforts during this time focused on achieving progress and prosperity for citizens and enhancing productive capacities.

In 1975, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University was established. It is one of the leading government universities in the Kingdom, aiming to provide higher education and promote scientific research in various fields.

In 1977, King Khalid bin Abdulaziz laid the foundation stone for Jubail Industrial City, which became the largest industrial city in the world.

The region witnessed a massive expansion in the infrastructure for oil and gas, with the development of petrochemical industries that greatly contributed to diversifying the economy.

During this decade, construction of the King Fahd Causeway began. It is considered one of the most important engineering and construction landmarks in the region, connecting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Kingdom of Bahrain. This enhances communication, economic and social ties, and serves as a vital passage for trade and tourism between the two countries.

In 1999, King Fahd International Airport was opened, which is the third-largest international airport in the Kingdom in terms of passenger numbers.

During this decade, the Eastern Province became more closely integrated with the global economy, thanks to technological advancements, trade openness, and the development of communication infrastructure and information technology.

The Kingdom launched several economic cities and industrial projects with the aim of diversifying income sources and relying on non-oil sectors of the economy. The Eastern Province hosts numerous economic projects.

In 2014, Hafar Al-Batin University was established in the Eastern Province to integrate with other Saudi universities in serving the educational process and implementing ambitious development plans in the Kingdom.

The Kingdom's Vision 2030 was unveiled by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, with the aim of achieving a diversified economy. The vision included strategic plans for the development of the Eastern Province, with a focus on innovation, tourism, and sustainable energy.

In 2018, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, launched the Khobar Desalination Plant as part of Vision 2030. The plant became a significant milestone in desalinating seawater into clean drinking water and generating clean energy for the Kingdom.

The Eastern Province Development Authority was established following the issuance of Council of the Authority's Resolution No. 1/1/M/1441H. The authority aims to promote sustainable development in the Eastern Province in all economic, social, cultural, and environmental aspects. It works on implementing infrastructure improvement projects, encouraging investments, enhancing various economic sectors, and improving the quality of life in the region.

During this year, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, inaugurated King Salman Energy Park (SPARK) to become a leading global hub for the energy sector in the region. It provides an integrated set of solutions to support companies in the Kingdom.

Ongoing projects under Vision 2030 continue, including expanding green energy initiatives and developing high-tech recreational and cultural facilities, contributing to transforming the Eastern Province into a future center for economic and social activities.

In 2021, the Public Investment Fund announced the launch of "The Edge" project to become an attractive destination for those seeking challenge and adventure. It features three hotels, international restaurants, helipads, and a wide range of adventures.

In February 2022, His Royal Highness Prince Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz, the Governor of the Eastern Province, inaugurated around 21 new development projects with a cost exceeding 1.5 billion Saudi riyals. These projects fall within various sectors and fields.

His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud announced the designation of four special economic zones, including the Ras Al Khair Economic Zone, aiming to solidify its economic position, achieve economic targets, and create stimulating opportunities for local and international companies. Ras Al Khair Economic Zone is focusing on: - Shipbuilding, maintenance, and repair. - Maintenance offshore drilling platforms.

In 2023, the Master Plan for Logistics zones in Saudi Arabia was launched to achieve the objectives of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy by identifying 17 logistics zones in Sharqia, which reflects the region's unique geographical location, as it is considered the Kingdom's gateway to the Gulf countries.

Sharqia has distinctive tourist sites that contributed to the increase in the number of tourists by 19 million tourists in 2023, with increasing of 26% compared to 2022, with a total spending about 27.8 billion SAR.

Khobar has joined the list of smart cities according to the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), ranking 99th globally in the list of smart cities. The index highlights the readiness of the cities of using advanced technologies to tackle challenges, thereby improving the quality of life for residents and creating an attractive environment for investment and opportunity.