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Coordinates: 28°25′16″N 48°29′44″E / 28.42111°N 48.49556°E / 28.42111; 48.49556
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{{refimprove|date=March 2009}}
{{Infobox settlement
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Khafji
| name = Khafji
| other_name = Al Khafji
| other_name = Al-Khafji
| official_name =
| official_name =
| native_name = الخفجي
| native_name = الخفجي
| settlement_type =
| settlement_type = [[List of cities and towns in Saudi Arabia|Town]]
| image_skyline = Khafji.jpg
| image_skyline = -4902-4126-81AA-2A3C61E3DAA1.jpg
| imagesize = 280px
| imagesize =
| image_caption = Saudi city of Khafji before the [[Battle of Khafji|Iraqi offensive]], U.S. Marines and an armored vehicle shown on patrol
| image_caption =
| image_seal =
| image_seal =
| pushpin_map = Saudi Arabia
| pushpin_map = Saudi Arabia
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_mapsize =
| pushpin_mapsize =
| pushpin_map_caption =
| pushpin_map_caption =
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name = {{flag| Saudi Arabia}}
| subdivision_name = Saudi Arabia
| subdivision_type1 = Emirate
| subdivision_type1 = [[Provinces of Saudi Arabia|Province]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia|Eastern Province]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia|Eastern]]
| subdivision_type2 =
| subdivision_type2 =
| subdivision_name2 =
| subdivision_name2 =
| government_footnotes =
| government_footnotes =
| government_type =
| government_type =
| leader_title = Monarch and Prime Minister
| leader_title = Monarch and Prime Minister
| leader_name = [[King Salman]]
| leader_name = [[King Salman]]
| leader_title1 = Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister
| leader_title1 = Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister
| leader_name1 = [[Muhammad bin Nayef|Mu ammad–ibn Na ef]]
| leader_name1 = [[Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud|Prince Mohammed]]
⚫
| established_title =
| leader_title2 = Deputy Crown Prince and Second Deputy Prime Minister
| leader_name2 = [[Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud|Prince Mohammed]]
| established_date =
| established_title =
| area_magnitude =
⚫
| established_date =
| area_total_km2 =
| area_total_km2 =
| area_metro_km2 =
| area_total_sq_mi =
| population_as_of = 2005
| area_metro_km2 = 8,210
| population_footnotes =
| area_urban_km2 =
| population_note =
| area_footnotes =
| population_as_of = 2022 census<ref>{{Cite web |title=Khafji governorate|url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/saudiarabia/eastern/0507__al_khafj%C4%AB/ |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=www.citypopulation.de}}</ref>
| population_total = 65000
| population_total = 78,691
| population_density_km2 =
| population_density_km2 = auto
⚫
| population_urban =
| population_density_sq_mi =
| population_density_urban_km2 =
⚫
| population_urban =
| coordinates = {{coord|28|25|N|48|30|E|region:SA|display=inline}}
| population_metro = 84,316 (Khafji governorate)
| elevation_footnotes =
| population_footnotes =
| elevation_m =
| elevation_ft =
| coordinates = {{Coord|28|25|16|N|48|29|44|E|region:SA_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| timezone = [[Arabia Standard Time|AST]]
| elevation_footnotes =
| utc_offset = +3
| elevation_m =
| postal_code_type = Postal Code
| elevation_ft =
| postal_code = 39261
| timezone = [[Arabia Standard Time|AST]]
| area_code = +966 13
| utc_offset = +3
| blank_name =
| postal_code_type = Postal Code
| blank_info =
| postal_code = 39261
| website =
| area_code = +966 13
| footnotes =
| website =
}}
}}


'''Ras Al Khafji''' ({{lang-ar|رأس الخفجي}} ''{{transl|ar|DIN|Raʾs al-Ḫafğī}}'') or '''Khafji''' (الخفجي) is a town on the border between [[Saudi Arabia]] and [[Kuwait]]. It lies in what was before 1970 the [[Saudi–Kuwaiti neutral zone]]. The [[List of companies of Japan|Japanese-owned]] [[Arabian Oil Company|Arabian Oil Company Ltd]] signed a concession agreement with the government of Saudi Arabia in December 1957 and with the government of Kuwait in July 1958 for exploration and development of hydrocarbon reserves in the offshore Neutral Zone. The Arabian Oil Company discovered the [[Khafji oil field]] in 1960 and the [[Hout oil field]] in 1963.<ref>http://www.aoc.co.jp/e/index.html</ref>
'''Ras al-Khafji''' ({{langx|ar|رأس الخفجي}} ''{{transliteration|ar|DIN|Raʾs al-Ḫafğī}}'') or '''Khafji''' (الخفجي) is a town on the border between [[Saudi Arabia]] and [[Kuwait]]. It lies in what was before 1970 the [[Saudi Arabian–Kuwaiti neutral zone]].


The [[Battle of Khafji]] took place in and around the town in 1991 and marked the high tide of [[Ba'athist Iraq|Iraq]]'s advance through Kuwait and into Saudi Arabia during the [[Gulf War|Persian Gulf War]].
⚫
It was only after the discovery of these oil deposits off-shore of Khafji that a permanent demarcation of the neutral zone between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia was established, with Khafji formally located within [[Saudi Arabia]]. However, the agreement concluded that both states would still maintain joint rights to all natural resources within the designated neutral zone. With the termination of the Arabian Oil Company lease to explore and extract within the area, operations within the Khafji Fields reverted to a joint venture between shareholder companies representing both states, with production being split on a 50:50 agreement between [[Kuwait]] and Saudi Arabia.

Khafji’s notoriety, however, is primarily owed to the [[Battle of Khafji]],{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}} which took place in and around the town in 1991 and marked the high tide of [[Iraq]]’s advance through Kuwait and into Saudi Arabia. Khafji's first Prince was [[Faisal bin Turki I bin Abdulaziz Al Saud|Prince Faisal bin Turki I]] Eldest grandson of the country's founder [[Ibn Saud]] also known as [[King Abdulaziz]].


==History==
==History==


The [[List of companies of Japan|Japanese-owned]] [[Arabian Oil Company|Arabian Oil Company Ltd]] signed a concession agreement with the government of Saudi Arabia in December 1957 and with the government of Kuwait in July 1958 for exploration and development of hydrocarbon reserves in the offshore Neutral Zone. The Arabian Oil Company discovered the [[Khafji oil field]] in 1960 and the [[Hout oil field]] in 1963.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.aoc.co.jp/e/index.html |title=Arabian Oil Company, Ltd |access-date=2011-09-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110904043340/http://www.aoc.co.jp/e/index.html |archive-date=2011-09-04 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
⚫
Al-Khafji largely came into existence following the 1960 discovery of the Al-Khafji oil field.{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}} Following the start of commercial oil production, the Arabian Oil Company established a residential compound that was composed of 73 residential quarters, built on a total area of {{convert|3000000|sqft|m2}}, and possessing drainage, electricity, piped water, cable telephones and a road network.{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}} The expansion of oil exploration and drilling in the region led the city to gradually expand,{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}} generally keeping pace with a trend witnessed throughout the Kingdom.

⚫
Al-Khafji largely came into existence following the 1960 discovery of the Al-Khafji oil field.{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}} Following the start of commercial oil production, the Arabian Oil Company established a residential compound that was composed of 73 residential quarters, built on a total area of {{convert|3000000|sqft|m2}}, and possessing drainage, electricity, piped water, cable telephones and a road network.{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}} The expansion of [[oil exploration]] and drilling in the region led the city to gradually expand,{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}} generally keeping pace with a trend witnessed throughout the Kingdom.

⚫
It was only after the discovery of oil deposits off-shore of Khafji that a permanent demarcation of the neutral zone between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia was established, with Khafji formally located within [[Saudi Arabia]]. However, the agreement concluded that both states would still maintain joint rights to all natural resources within the designated neutral zone. With the termination of the Arabian Oil Company lease to explore and extract within the area, operations within the Khafji Fields reverted to a joint venture between shareholder companies representing both states, with production being split on a 50:50 agreement between [[Kuwait]] and Saudi Arabia.

Khafji's first prince{{when|date=March 2024}} was [[Faisal bin Turki I bin Abdulaziz Al Saud|Prince Faisal bin Turki I]], eldest grandson of the country's founder [[Ibn Saud]], also known as King Abdulaziz.


===First Gulf War===
===First Gulf War===
On January 29, 1991 the Iraqi army invaded Khafji following the [[Invasion of Kuwait|invasion and subsequent occupation of Kuwait]]. Saudi, Qatari and [[Coalition of the Gulf War|Coalition]] forces compelled the Iraqi army to withdraw from the city on the January 31, 1991 as a consequence of the [[Battle of Khafji]].
On January 29, 1991 the [[Iraqi Ground Forces|Iraqi army]] invaded Khafji following the [[Invasion of Kuwait|invasion and subsequent occupation of Kuwait]]. Saudi, Qatari and [[Coalition of the Gulf War|Coalition]] forces liberated the city on the January 31, 1991 following the [[Battle of Khafji]].


===Post-Gulf War===
===Post-Gulf War===
In 1995, city officials declared the city safe and mine-free.{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}}
In 1995, city officials declared the city safe and mine-free.{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}}


==Location==
==Geography==
===Location===


Khafji is located in Saudi Arabia's [[Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia|Eastern Region]] along the coast of the [[Persian Gulf]]. The city is situated at latitude 28-26 N, longitude 48-30 E. It is {{convert|10|km}} south of the Saudi-Kuwaiti border, {{convert|130|km}} south of [[Kuwait City]] and {{convert|300|km}} north of [[Dammam]].
Khafji is located in Saudi Arabia's [[Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia|Eastern Region]] along the coast of the [[Persian Gulf]]. The city is situated at latitude 28-26 N, longitude 48-30 E. It is {{convert|10|km}} south of the Saudi-Kuwaiti border, {{convert|130|km}} south of [[Kuwait City]] and {{convert|300|km}} north of [[Dammam]].


==Climate==
===Climate===
Khafji has a [[hot desert climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''BWh'').
Khafji has a [[hot desert climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''BWh'').
{{Weather box|location = Khafji
{{Weather box|location = Khafji
|metric first = Y
|metric first = Y
|single line = Y
|single line = Y
⚫
|Jan high C = 17.8

⚫
|Jan high C = 17.8
|Feb high C = 20.0
|Feb high C = 20.0
|Mar high C = 23.9
|Mar high C = 23.9
Line 92: Line 94:
|Nov high C = 25.8
|Nov high C = 25.8
|Dec high C = 19.7
|Dec high C = 19.7
⚫
|Feb low C = 8.7
|Feb low C = 8.7
|Jan low C = 9.8
⚫
|Jan low C = 9.8
|Mar low C = 13.1
|Mar low C = 13.1
|Apr low C = 17.5
|Apr low C = 17.5
Line 105: Line 106:
|Nov low C = 15.1
|Nov low C = 15.1
|Dec low C = 9.8
|Dec low C = 9.8
⚫
|Jan precipitation mm = 25

⚫
|Jan precipitation mm = 25
|Feb precipitation mm = 15
|Feb precipitation mm = 15
|Mar precipitation mm = 7
|Mar precipitation mm = 7
Line 119: Line 119:
|Dec precipitation mm = 8
|Dec precipitation mm = 8
|year precipitation mm= 87
|year precipitation mm= 87

|source = [https://en.climate-data.org/location/53362/ Climate-data.org]
|source = [https://en.climate-data.org/location/53362/ Climate-data.org]
|date=06 March 2018}}
|date=06 March 2018}}


==Khafji's future==
==Khafji's future==
The Saudi government, in conjunction with [[Khafji Joint Operations]], is promoting large-scale development projects in Khafji with the goal of transforming it into one of the major cities in the country. According to the Saudi government,{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}} Khafji is to be the headquarters of a new natural gas company. A separate government project in Khafji is to promote the city as an international tourist destination. The project would publicize and promote Khafji's beaches on the [[Persian Gulf]] during the summer and the temperate weather and desert camping in the winter. {{Citation needed|date=September 2010}}
The Saudi government, in conjunction with [[Aramco Gulf Operations Company]], is promoting large-scale development projects in Khafji with the goal of transforming it into one of the major cities in the country. According to the Saudi government,{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}} Khafji is to be the headquarters of a new natural gas company. A separate government project in Khafji is to promote the city as an international tourist destination. The project would publicize and promote Khafji's beaches on the [[Persian Gulf|Arabian Gulf]] during the summer and the temperate weather and desert camping in the winter. {{Citation needed|date=September 2010}}


==Population==
==Population==
Line 130: Line 129:


==Education==
==Education==
The city lacks institutions offering [[Higher education|post secondary education]] for men. Khafji is home to the [[Girls Education College]], a female-only college. In January 2009, Muhammed Al-Umair, Director of Colleges in the Eastern Province opened an investigation into the Girls Education College following reports of piles of garbage lying about the college going uncollected for weeks and alleged late-night break ins by Asian workers exploiting the absence of security guards and staff. Students portrayed toilets at the school as unusable, and the environment at the school was portrayed as lax to the point of being detrimental to scholastic endeavors.<ref>http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentID=2009010325643</ref><ref>http://www.a1saudiarabia.com/Chaos-in-Khafji-Girls-Education-College/</ref> The Girls Education College receives a portion of its funding from [[Chevron Corporation|Chevron]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chevron.com/countries/saudiarabia/inthecommunity/ |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2010-09-28 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110122013848/http://www.chevron.com/countries/saudiarabia/inthecommunity/ |archivedate=2011-01-22 |df= }}</ref>
The city lacks institutions offering [[Higher education|post secondary education]] for men. Khafji is home to the [[Girls Education College]], a female-only college. In January 2009, Muhammed Al-Umair, Director of Colleges in the Eastern Province opened an investigation into the Girls Education College following reports of piles of garbage lying about the college going uncollected for weeks. Students portrayed toilets at the school as unusable, and the environment at the school was portrayed as lax to the point of being detrimental to scholastic endeavors.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentID=2009010325643 |title=Saudi Gazette - Chaos in Khafji Girls' Education College |access-date=2010-09-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330183908/http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentID=2009010325643 |archive-date=2012-03-30 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.a1saudiarabia.com/Chaos-in-Khafji-Girls-Education-College/ |title=Chaos in Khafji Girls Education College &#124; A1SaudiArabia.com |access-date=2010-09-28 |archive-date=2011-07-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707072220/http://www.a1saudiarabia.com/Chaos-in-Khafji-Girls-Education-College/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> The Girls Education College receives a portion of its funding from [[Chevron Corporation|Chevron]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chevron.com/countries/saudiarabia/inthecommunity/ |title=In the Community &#124; Saudi Arabia &#124; Chevron |access-date=2010-09-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110122013848/http://www.chevron.com/countries/saudiarabia/inthecommunity/ |archive-date=2011-01-22}}</ref>


==Healthcare==
==Healthcare==


Until 1969, Khafji was served by a single hospital, the Company Hospital. In 1969, the Minstery of Health funded the construction of an additional two clinics.{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}} In 1988, Khafji National Polyclinic was established and turned into hospital by 2004 to be the pioneer in private medical service in the city.In 1996, Al Khafji Joint Operations Hospital (KJO Hospital) opened, and has since been expanded. Previously, KJO Hospital used to provide healthcare for 7,000 inpatient and 80,000 outpatient visits per year.<ref>http://www.ggheewala.com/alkhafji.asp</ref> Currently Khafji General Hospital- since started by the end of 2005- became the main health institute in Khafji Governorate since it provides the health care for all citizens and eligible residents in all speciality areas -regarding the rapidly growing population- and rapidely expanding every day replacing the historical role of KJO hospital. Several private hospitals And private polyclinics have also been established in Khafji to keep up with the needs of citizens and residents in the city, as well as the citizens of neighboring Kuwait, like Kingdom of medicine, Almanar complex and was most recently the launch of Alrahmah Medical Complex in 2010.<ref>http://www.alrahmahonline.com/</ref>{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}}
Until 1969, Khafji was served by a single hospital, the Company Hospital. In 1969, the Ministry of Health funded the construction of an additional two clinics.{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}} In 1988, Khafji National Polyclinic was established and turned into hospital by 2004 to be the pioneer in private medical service in the city. In 1996, Al Khafji Joint Operations Hospital (KJO Hospital) opened, and has since been expanded. Previously, KJO Hospital used to provide healthcare for 7,000 inpatient and 80,000 outpatient visits per year.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ggheewala.com/alkhafji.asp |title=G Gheewala |access-date=2010-09-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101122231028/http://ggheewala.com/alkhafji.asp |archive-date=2010-11-22 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Currently Khafji General Hospital- since started by the end of 2005- became the main health institute in Khafji Governorate since it provides the health care for all citizens and eligible residents in all speciality areas -regarding the rapidly growing population- and rapidly expanding every day replacing the historical role of KJO hospital. Several private hospitals And private polyclinics have also been established in Khafji to keep up with the needs of citizens and residents in the city, as well as the citizens of neighboring Kuwait, like Kingdom of medicine, Almanar complex and was most recently the launch of Alrahmah Medical Complex in 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.alrahmahonline.com/ |title=مجمع الرحمة الطبي |access-date=2011-06-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903202107/http://www.alrahmahonline.com/ |archive-date=2011-09-03 |url-status=dead}}</ref>{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}}


==Transportation==
==Transportation==
===Airport===
===Airport===
The city is served by [[King Fahd International Airport]], although there is a small airfield in the city owned by [[Saudi Aramco]] that is not open for public use or commercial service.
There is a small airfield in the city ([[Khafji Airport]]) owned by [[Aramco Gulf Operations Company]] that is not open for public use or commercial service.


Geographically, located 230 km to the west is the nearest domestic airport offering commercial flights ([[Al Qaisumah/Hafr Al Batin Airport]]) which has limited domestic flights, however no direct road exists which makes driving distance approximately 300 km and no longer the closes airport. [[King Fahd International Airport]] in Dammam is the closest local airport with international services at a driving distance of 270 km, despite [[Kuwait International Airport]] being the closest commercial airport to the city.
Geographically, located 230&nbsp;km to the west is the nearest domestic airport offering commercial flights ([[Al Qaisumah/Hafr Al Batin Airport]]) which has limited domestic flights, however no direct road exists which makes driving distance approximately 300&nbsp;km and no longer the closest airport. [[King Fahd International Airport]] in Dammam is the closest airport in the country with international services at a driving distance of 270&nbsp;km, despite [[Kuwait International Airport]] being the closest commercial airport overall to the city.


==Culture and recreation==
==Culture and recreation==
Many residents of Khafji travel to Kuwait or, to a lesser extent, to Dammam to shop.{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}} Both cities offer a greater variety of products and large and well-established markets in contrast to the young but growing retail options in Khafji.{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}}
Many residents of Khafji travel to Kuwait or, to a lesser extent, to Dammam to shop.{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}} Both locations offer a greater variety of products and large and well-established markets in contrast to the young but growing retail options in Khafji.{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}}

<br />


== See also ==
== See also ==
Line 152: Line 149:


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


{{Saudi cities}}
{{Saudi cities}}
{{Saudi Arabia topics}}
{{Saudi Arabia topics}}
{{Authority control}}
{{coord|28|25|N|48|30|E|region:SA_type:city|display=title}}

[[Category:Populated places in Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia]]
[[Category:Populated places in Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia]]
[[Category:Port cities and towns in Saudi Arabia]]
[[Category:Port cities and towns in Saudi Arabia]]
[[Category:Port cities and towns of the Persian Gulf]]
[[Category:Port cities and towns of the Persian Gulf]]
[[Category:Kuwait–Saudi Arabia relations]]
[[Category:Kuwait–Saudi Arabia relations]]
[[Category:Cities in Saudi Arabia]]

Latest revision as of 22:09, 26 November 2024

Khafji
الخفجي
Al-Khafji
Town
Khafji is located in Saudi Arabia
Khafji
Khafji
Coordinates: 28°25′16″N 48°29′44″E / 28.42111°N 48.49556°E / 28.42111; 48.49556
CountrySaudi Arabia
ProvinceEastern
Government
 • Monarch and Prime MinisterKing Salman
 • Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime MinisterPrince Mohammed
Area
 • Metro
8,210 km2 (3,170 sq mi)
Population
 (2022 census[1])
 • Town
78,691
 • Metro
84,316 (Khafji governorate)
Time zoneUTC+3 (AST)
Postal Code
39261
Area code+966 13

Ras al-Khafji (Arabic: رأس الخفجي Raʾs al-Ḫafğī) or Khafji (الخفجي) is a town on the border between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. It lies in what was before 1970 the Saudi Arabian–Kuwaiti neutral zone.

The Battle of Khafji took place in and around the town in 1991 and marked the high tide of Iraq's advance through Kuwait and into Saudi Arabia during the Persian Gulf War.

History

[edit]

The Japanese-owned Arabian Oil Company Ltd signed a concession agreement with the government of Saudi Arabia in December 1957 and with the government of Kuwait in July 1958 for exploration and development of hydrocarbon reserves in the offshore Neutral Zone. The Arabian Oil Company discovered the Khafji oil field in 1960 and the Hout oil field in 1963.[2]

Al-Khafji largely came into existence following the 1960 discovery of the Al-Khafji oil field.[citation needed] Following the start of commercial oil production, the Arabian Oil Company established a residential compound that was composed of 73 residential quarters, built on a total area of 3,000,000 square feet (280,000 m2), and possessing drainage, electricity, piped water, cable telephones and a road network.[citation needed] The expansion of oil exploration and drilling in the region led the city to gradually expand,[citation needed] generally keeping pace with a trend witnessed throughout the Kingdom.

It was only after the discovery of oil deposits off-shore of Khafji that a permanent demarcation of the neutral zone between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia was established, with Khafji formally located within Saudi Arabia. However, the agreement concluded that both states would still maintain joint rights to all natural resources within the designated neutral zone. With the termination of the Arabian Oil Company lease to explore and extract within the area, operations within the Khafji Fields reverted to a joint venture between shareholder companies representing both states, with production being split on a 50:50 agreement between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

Khafji's first prince[when?] was Prince Faisal bin Turki I, eldest grandson of the country's founder Ibn Saud, also known as King Abdulaziz.

First Gulf War

[edit]

On January 29, 1991 the Iraqi army invaded Khafji following the invasion and subsequent occupation of Kuwait. Saudi, Qatari and Coalition forces liberated the city on the January 31, 1991 following the Battle of Khafji.

Post-Gulf War

[edit]

In 1995, city officials declared the city safe and mine-free.[citation needed]

Geography

[edit]

Location

[edit]

Khafji is located in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Region along the coast of the Persian Gulf. The city is situated at latitude 28-26 N, longitude 48-30 E. It is 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) south of the Saudi-Kuwaiti border, 130 kilometres (81 mi) south of Kuwait City and 300 kilometres (190 mi) north of Dammam.

Climate

[edit]

Khafji has a hot desert climate (Köppen climate classification BWh).

Climate data for Khafji
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 17.8
(64.0) 		20.0
(68.0) 		23.9
(75.0) 		28.7
(83.7) 		34.8
(94.6) 		39.4
(102.9) 		40.8
(105.4) 		40.9
(105.6) 		37.9
(100.2) 		33.3
(91.9) 		25.8
(78.4) 		19.7
(67.5) 		30.3
(86.4)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 9.8
(49.6) 		8.7
(47.7) 		13.1
(55.6) 		17.5
(63.5) 		22.9
(73.2) 		27.2
(81.0) 		28.8
(83.8) 		28.3
(82.9) 		24.8
(76.6) 		20.7
(69.3) 		15.1
(59.2) 		9.8
(49.6) 		18.9
(66.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 25
(1.0) 		15
(0.6) 		7
(0.3) 		9
(0.4) 		1
(0.0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		1
(0.0) 		21
(0.8) 		8
(0.3) 		87
(3.4)
Source: Climate-data.org

Khafji's future

[edit]

The Saudi government, in conjunction with Aramco Gulf Operations Company, is promoting large-scale development projects in Khafji with the goal of transforming it into one of the major cities in the country. According to the Saudi government,[citation needed] Khafji is to be the headquarters of a new natural gas company. A separate government project in Khafji is to promote the city as an international tourist destination. The project would publicize and promote Khafji's beaches on the Arabian Gulf during the summer and the temperate weather and desert camping in the winter. [citation needed]

Population

[edit]

The population of Khafji is roughly 120,000 (2015).[citation needed] A significant proportion of the population is composed of oil company employees and their families, and thus a large proportion of residents came to Khafji from different cities in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait after 1960.[citation needed]

Education

[edit]

The city lacks institutions offering post secondary education for men. Khafji is home to the Girls Education College, a female-only college. In January 2009, Muhammed Al-Umair, Director of Colleges in the Eastern Province opened an investigation into the Girls Education College following reports of piles of garbage lying about the college going uncollected for weeks. Students portrayed toilets at the school as unusable, and the environment at the school was portrayed as lax to the point of being detrimental to scholastic endeavors.[3][4] The Girls Education College receives a portion of its funding from Chevron.[5]

Healthcare

[edit]

Until 1969, Khafji was served by a single hospital, the Company Hospital. In 1969, the Ministry of Health funded the construction of an additional two clinics.[citation needed] In 1988, Khafji National Polyclinic was established and turned into hospital by 2004 to be the pioneer in private medical service in the city. In 1996, Al Khafji Joint Operations Hospital (KJO Hospital) opened, and has since been expanded. Previously, KJO Hospital used to provide healthcare for 7,000 inpatient and 80,000 outpatient visits per year.[6] Currently Khafji General Hospital- since started by the end of 2005- became the main health institute in Khafji Governorate since it provides the health care for all citizens and eligible residents in all speciality areas -regarding the rapidly growing population- and rapidly expanding every day replacing the historical role of KJO hospital. Several private hospitals And private polyclinics have also been established in Khafji to keep up with the needs of citizens and residents in the city, as well as the citizens of neighboring Kuwait, like Kingdom of medicine, Almanar complex and was most recently the launch of Alrahmah Medical Complex in 2010.[7][citation needed]

Transportation

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Airport

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There is a small airfield in the city (Khafji Airport) owned by Aramco Gulf Operations Company that is not open for public use or commercial service.

Geographically, located 230 km to the west is the nearest domestic airport offering commercial flights (Al Qaisumah/Hafr Al Batin Airport) which has limited domestic flights, however no direct road exists which makes driving distance approximately 300 km and no longer the closest airport. King Fahd International Airport in Dammam is the closest airport in the country with international services at a driving distance of 270 km, despite Kuwait International Airport being the closest commercial airport overall to the city.

Culture and recreation

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Many residents of Khafji travel to Kuwait or, to a lesser extent, to Dammam to shop.[citation needed] Both locations offer a greater variety of products and large and well-established markets in contrast to the young but growing retail options in Khafji.[citation needed]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Khafji governorate". www.citypopulation.de. Retrieved 2024-02-03.
  2. ^ "Arabian Oil Company, Ltd". Archived from the original on 2011-09-04. Retrieved 2011-09-12.
  3. ^ "Saudi Gazette - Chaos in Khafji Girls' Education College". Archived from the original on 2012-03-30. Retrieved 2010-09-28.
  4. ^ "Chaos in Khafji Girls Education College | A1SaudiArabia.com". Archived from the original on 2011-07-07. Retrieved 2010-09-28.
  5. ^ "In the Community | Saudi Arabia | Chevron". Archived from the original on 2011-01-22. Retrieved 2010-09-28.
  6. ^ "G Gheewala". Archived from the original on 2010-11-22. Retrieved 2010-09-28.
  7. ^ "مجمع الرحمة الطبي". Archived from the original on 2011-09-03. Retrieved 2011-06-01.
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