Dammam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dammam
الدمام
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 Dammam
Location in Saudi Arabia
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| Country |  Saudi Arabia |
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| Province | Eastern Province | |
| First settled | 1923 | |
| Founded by | The Dawasir | |
| Government | ||
| • Body | Municipality of Dammam (امانة الدمام) | |
| Area | ||
| • City | 800 km2 (300 sq mi) | |
| • Land | 800 km2 (300 sq mi) | |
| • Urban | 800 km2 (300 sq mi) | |
| • Metro | 1,471 km2 (568 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 10 m (30 ft) | |
| Population | ||
| • City | 1,532,300 | |
| • Rank | 4 | |
| • Metro | 2,190,900 | |
| • Metro density | 1,489.4/km2 (3,857.5/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (AST) | |
| Postal Code |
324XX
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| Area code(s) | 013 | |
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Dammam (Arabic: الدمّام ad-Dammām) is a big city in Saudi Arabia. It is the capital of the Eastern Province. About 1.5 million people live here, making it the fourth largest city in Saudi Arabia.
Dammam is part of a larger area called the Greater Dammam area. This area includes Dammam, Dhahran, and Khobar. These cities are very connected through their people, businesses, and culture.
The Dawasir tribe first settled in Dammam around 1923. It started as a small fishing village. But everything changed when oil was found nearby! Dammam then grew into an important port city and a center for government. After Saudi Arabia became one country, Dammam was chosen as the capital of the Eastern Province.
Today, Dammam is a key place for Saudi Arabia's oil industry. Its port, called King Abdul Aziz Sea Port, is one of the biggest in the Persian Gulf. It handles a lot of goods, helping the city's economy.
The city also has a huge airport, King Fahd International Airport (KFIA). It's one of the biggest airports in the world by land area. This airport connects Dammam to many places around the globe.
Contents
History of Dammam
Dammam has an interesting past, from a small village to a major city.
How Dammam Started (1923–1932)
In 1923, the Al Dawasir tribe moved from Bahrain and settled in Dammam. King Abdul Aziz gave them permission to live there. They first settled in Khobar, hoping to return to Bahrain. But it was hard for them to move back. This move helped Khobar grow and created strong ties with Dammam.
Finding Oil (1932–1940s)
The search for oil in Dammam began in 1933. The Saudi government signed a deal with an American oil company. Geologists came to Dammam to plan where to drill.
The first oil well, Dammam No. 1, was started in 1935. It didn't find much oil, so they stopped drilling it in 1936. Then, they drilled Dammam No. 2, which showed more promise.
On December 7, 1936, work began on Dammam No. 7. At first, it didn't look good. But by March 4, 1938, Well No. 7 started producing a lot of oil! This well, now called the 'Prosperity Well,' proved that Saudi Arabia had huge amounts of oil. This discovery changed the country forever.
Fast Growth (1940s–1960s)
More oil fields were found around Dammam in the 1940s and 50s. This led to a huge building boom. Companies like Al Bin Ali and Brothers helped build roads and expand the port. Many experts came to Dammam to help find and produce oil.
New pipelines and storage areas were built for the oil. Also, new businesses started to support the oil industry and the people living in Dammam. The government also built modern hospitals and healthcare centers for everyone.
Dammam Today (1960s–Present)
In just a few decades, Dammam grew from a small town to a city with over 1.5 million people. It's not just an oil city anymore. It's a modern city with many industries.
The Saudi government helped the area grow even more. New roads and highways connected Dammam to other cities. A railway line was built to connect Dammam to Riyadh. The King Fahd International Airport was built to improve travel.
To help other industries grow, an industrial city was created. It now has many factories. A second, even larger industrial city was built further away. These factories make many products sold in Saudi Arabia and other countries.
Dammam was planned carefully. Homes are separate from businesses. Roads are wide and straight. Large parts of the Persian Gulf were even filled in to create more land. Water comes from special plants that clean seawater. Dammam is also part of the World Energy Cities Partnership.
Geography and Climate
Dammam has a hot desert climate. This means it's usually very hot and dry.
Weather in Dammam
- Winters: Winters are mild to warm. Temperatures can sometimes drop to around 1°C at night.
- Rainfall: It doesn't rain much in Dammam. Most rain falls in small amounts during winter (November, December, January). Sometimes there are heavy thunderstorms.
- Summers: Summers are extremely hot. Temperatures often go above 40°C during the day from March to October. Nights are also hot, usually above 35°C, and very humid.
- Dust Storms: Dust storms, called shamals, are common in summer. They usually come from the north.
The hottest temperature ever recorded in Dammam was 50.8°C in July 2024. The coldest was 0.8°C in January 2008.
| Climate data for Dammam (1991–2020) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 31.6 (88.9) |
36.0 (96.8) |
42.8 (109.0) |
45.3 (113.5) |
48.0 (118.4) |
50.3 (122.5) |
50.8 (123.4) |
50.0 (122.0) |
48.8 (119.8) |
46.0 (114.8) |
39.3 (102.7) |
32.5 (90.5) |
50.8 (123.4) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 21.5 (70.7) |
23.8 (74.8) |
28.9 (84.0) |
34.5 (94.1) |
40.6 (105.1) |
43.8 (110.8) |
45.2 (113.4) |
44.8 (112.6) |
41.9 (107.4) |
37.4 (99.3) |
28.9 (84.0) |
23.3 (73.9) |
34.5 (94.1) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 15.3 (59.5) |
17.1 (62.8) |
21.4 (70.5) |
26.9 (80.4) |
32.6 (90.7) |
35.8 (96.4) |
37.1 (98.8) |
36.3 (97.3) |
33.2 (91.8) |
28.8 (83.8) |
22.2 (72.0) |
17.0 (62.6) |
27.0 (80.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 9.9 (49.8) |
11.4 (52.5) |
14.9 (58.8) |
20.1 (68.2) |
25.0 (77.0) |
27.8 (82.0) |
29.6 (85.3) |
28.9 (84.0) |
25.7 (78.3) |
21.5 (70.7) |
16.5 (61.7) |
11.8 (53.2) |
20.3 (68.5) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 0.8 (33.4) |
1.8 (35.2) |
5.9 (42.6) |
9.8 (49.6) |
17.5 (63.5) |
21.3 (70.3) |
25.0 (77.0) |
19.0 (66.2) |
19.2 (66.6) |
14.9 (58.8) |
7.0 (44.6) |
1.8 (35.2) |
0.8 (33.4) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 16.2 (0.64) |
11.0 (0.43) |
8.3 (0.33) |
10.8 (0.43) |
2.9 (0.11) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.5 (0.02) |
20.7 (0.81) |
16.9 (0.67) |
87.3 (3.44) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 2.3 | 1.7 | 2.5 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 2.4 | 1.9 | 13.3 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 59 | 54 | 41 | 36 | 26 | 20 | 23 | 34 | 37 | 48 | 53 | 59 | 41 |
| Average dew point °C (°F) | 6 (43) |
6 (43) |
6 (43) |
8 (46) |
9 (48) |
6 (43) |
10 (50) |
15 (59) |
14 (57) |
14 (57) |
11 (52) |
7 (45) |
9 (49) |
| Source 1: World Meteorological Organization, Jeddah Regional Climate Center | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: Time and Date (dewpoints, 2005-2015) | |||||||||||||
Environment
Water Table Issues
Some buildings and underground pipes in Dammam have been affected by a rising water level underground. This can happen from rain, seawater, or leaks from water pipes. Studies show that leaky drinking water and sewage pipes are the main reason for this problem. This rising water level is a challenge for the city's growth.
Economy of Dammam
Dammam is a very important industrial city in Saudi Arabia. Its economy relies a lot on the oil and gas industry.
Saudi Aramco, a huge oil company, is a big part of the oil sector here. The first oil well in Saudi Arabia was found in Dammam. This discovery helped Saudi Arabia become a world leader in oil and gas.
Dammam is also a hub for importing things like farm products and cattle. Big companies like 3M, Hitachi Energy, and Siemens have factories or facilities in Dammam. The Dhahran Techno Valley is a special area for technology companies, often linked to Aramco.
Transportation in Dammam
Dammam has many ways to get around, making it a well-connected city.
Air Travel
The city is served by the King Fahd International Airport (KFIA). This airport is known for being the largest in the world by land area. It's about 20 kilometers northwest of the city. KFIA is a major airport for the Eastern Province, with flights to many cities in the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and Europe. It is also a main base for the airline Flynas.
Sea Travel
The King Abdul Aziz Port is on the coast of the Persian Gulf. It is the second largest and busiest port in Saudi Arabia. It was built in the late 1940s. The port has modern equipment to handle many types of ships and cargo. It also has places for fishing boats and ship repairs.
Roads and Highways
Dammam is connected to many cities in the Eastern Province by large 8-lane highways. These include cities like Khobar, Jubail, and Qatif.
A major highway, Highway 40, links Dammam to the capital city, Riyadh, and to Jeddah on the west coast. Dammam is also connected to Bahrain by the 28-kilometer-long King Fahd Causeway. There are also highways connecting Dammam to other Middle Eastern countries like Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.
Public buses now run within Dammam and connect it to nearby cities like Khobar.
Rail Travel
The main office of the Saudi Railways Organization (SRO) is in Dammam. The passenger terminal in Dammam was the first one built in Saudi Arabia, in 1981. It's a key part of the country's railway system.
Dammam will also be an important stop on the future Gulf Railway. This railway will connect all six countries in the Gulf region. There are also plans for new railway lines connecting Dammam to Jeddah and Jubail.
City Transit
In 2014, plans were approved for a new public transport system in Dammam. This system will include:
- A light rail system with two lines. One line will connect Tarout Island to the King Fahd Causeway. The second line will link central Dammam to the King Fahd International Airport.
- A bus rapid transit system.
- Feeder buses to connect outer parts of the city.
The bus rapid transit system started running in 2023. It covers Dammam, Khobar, Qatif, and Dhahran, with many bus stops.
Culture and Fun
Entertainment
The Saudi government is working to create more fun places in the Eastern Province. This is part of their Vision 2030 plan. They plan to build amusement parks and theatres. The King Salman Energy Park (SPARK) is also being built between Dammam and Ahsa.
The beaches along the Persian Gulf are popular places for locals to visit, especially for fishing.
Sports
Football (soccer) is the most popular sport in Dammam and in Saudi Arabia. The Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium is the city's main football stadium. It's home to the football clubs Ettifaq FC and Al-Nahda Club.
Other traditional sports like camel racing and falconry are still enjoyed. Basketball and equestrianism (horse riding) are also popular. Cricket is a favorite sport among people from South Asia who live in the city.
Shopping
Dammam has many local markets and modern malls.
- Local Markets: "Souq Al Hob" and "Souq Al Dammam" sell local goods and everyday items.
- Malls: "Al Othaim Mall" and "Marina Mall" offer many international brands.
Large shopping chains like Tamimi Markets, Nesto Chains, The Grand Mall Chains, and Panda Chains are found all over Dammam.
Culture
The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, also known as Ithra, is a major cultural spot. It has a museum, a children's museum, a library, a cinema, a theater, and exhibition halls. This center has been named one of the top 100 places to visit by Time magazine.
People of Dammam
In 1950, Dammam had only 22,000 people. By 2000, its population grew to 759,000. This made Dammam one of the fastest-growing cities in the world during that time. In 2010, the population was about 903,000. Today, it's over 1.5 million people.
Healthcare and Education
Healthcare
The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health manages medical facilities. Dammam has many public hospitals, like the Dammam Medical Complex and the King Fahd Specialist Hospital. There are also hospitals for members of the Saudi Arabian Armed Forces.
Many private hospitals and clinics also serve the city. One of the largest is the Al Mana Group of Hospitals.
Education
Dammam has many schools, colleges, and universities.
- Schools: There are many public and private schools. They teach different subjects and in different languages. Many international schools follow Indian, American, British, or other countries' curricula. The International Indian School Dammam is one of the largest schools in Saudi Arabia.
- Higher Education: Important universities in the area include the Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University and the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM).
Dammam Governorate
The Dammam Governorate is one of the 12 areas that make up the Eastern Province. It includes parts of other cities in the Dammam area, like all of Dhahran. Most of the governorate is empty desert, except for the King Fahd International Airport and the Second Industrial City of Dammam.
The governorate is next to the Persian Gulf to the northeast. It borders the Khobar Governorate to the southeast and the Qatif Governorate to the northwest.
Images for kids
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Saudi Aramco airplanes parked in the Aramco terminal at King Fahd International Airport
See also
In Spanish: Dammam para niños
