Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
EASTERN PROVINCE
The Eastern Province is the centre of Saudi Arabia's oil industry and, as such, you're more
likely to live and work here than visit. The province boasts the longest history of Western-
ers living and working in Saudi Arabia, and the sprawling satellite towns of Dammam, Al-
Khobar and Dhahran are prosperous and relatively liberal.
DON'T MISS
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EAST
»
Al-Hofuf
(also known as Al-Hasa and Al-Ahsa) is believed to form the largest oasis in the world with over three
million palm trees that produce more than half a million tons of dates a year. It's a two-hour drive from Dammam
or 4½ hours from Riyadh.
»
The
Aramco Exhibit
(
03-874 7400;
www.saudiaramco.com
; Off Dallah Rd;
7am-6.30pm Sat-Wed,
9am-noon & 3-6.30pm Thu, 3-6.30pm Fri) in Dhahran is one of the best museums in the country with in-
teractive exhibits and fascinating displays on the oil industry.
»
Al-Khobar Restaurants
The newest, most liberal and most attractive of the three cities that make up Greater
Dhahran, Al-Khobar has fabulous restaurants, including seafood-rich
Al-Sanbok
(
www.sanbok.com
; Khobar Cor-
niche South; noon-3pm & 6-11.30pm) .
»
The Bedouin market at
Nairiyah
, about 250km north of Dammam, is worth a visit if you're here on a Thursday.
For foreigners not interested in sheep, goats or camels, the attraction has long been the Bedouin weavings (mostly
rugs).
