Postal Code (5 digits) Website [1] Population 1.5 million (2014) | Province Hofuf Area code(s) +966-13 Local time Monday 9:55 AM | |
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Weather 28°C, Wind S at 13 km/h, 26% Humidity Points of interest King Abdullah Environm, Qaisariah Souq, Ibrahim Palace (castle), Dream Park, Ein lacustris | ||
Jabal qarah al ahsa hofuf
Al-Hofuf (also Hofuf , Hofof' or Hufuf, also known as Al-Hasa and Al-Ahsa) (Arabic: الهفوف al-Hufūf) is the major urban center in the Al-Ahsa Oasis in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. It is also very well known for being one of the largest date producers in the world, and for its old souks and palaces.
Contents
- Jabal qarah al ahsa hofuf
- Map of Al Hofuf Saudi Arabia
- Overview
- Economy
- Climate
- Culture
- Airport
- Railway
- References
Map of Al Hofuf Saudi Arabia
Overview
The city proper has a population of ? (2009 census) and is part of a larger populated oasis area of towns and villages of around 600,000. It is located inland, southwest of Abqaiq and the Dhahran–Dammam–Al-Khobar metropolitan area on the road south to Haradh. It is the closest city to the famous Ghawar oil field, one of the world's largest conventional (land-based) fields.
Hofuf is one of the major cultural centers in Saudi Arabia. A lot of well-known families live there. The faculties of agriculture, veterinary medicine and animal resources for King Faisal University are located in the city (the others being in Dammam). The Hofuf campus also has facilities where Saudi women can study medicine, dentistry and home economics.
Legend places this as the burial place of Laila and Majnoon, the star-crossed pair of the most popular love story in the Arab and Muslim world. The Queen of Sheba is also fabled to have visited this city from her kingdom in Yemen.
German explorer, Hermann Burchardt, photographed the city in 1904.
Economy
Historically, Hofuf made textiles out of wool, silk, and cotton. The town was also renowned for its fruit of the date palm, the Arabs considering the khalasi variety of dates, grown in Hofuf, as also the fardh variety of Oman, among the best. As of 1920, the city was known for making coffee pots from silver and brass.
Climate
Hofuf has a desert climate (Köppen climate classification BWh) with long, very hot summers and mild, short winters.
Culture
The International Random Film Festival was hosted in Hofuf in January 2015.
Airport
Although the city has two airports, it is served by King Fahd International Airport which is 130 km away in Dammam. Of the local airports, the old one is abandoned, and the new one, Al-Ahsa International Airport, is being used for domestic and limited international flight to Doha and Dubai
Railway
The city has a railway station connecting the city with the capital Riyadh to the west and Dammam to the north. All railways in Saudi Arabia are organized by the Saudi Railways Organization.