Qatif facts for kids

Qatif, also known as Al-Qatif (Arabic: ٱلْقَطِيف Al-Qaṭīf), is a city and area in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. It stretches from Ras Tanura and Jubail in the north to Dammam in the south. To its east is the Persian Gulf, and to its west is King Fahd International Airport. Qatif has its own local government and includes the main city, Safwa, Saihat, Tarout Island, and many smaller towns.

Qatif is one of the oldest places where people have lived in Eastern Arabia. Its history goes back about 5,500 years to 3500 BC. Back then, it was part of a region called Dilmun, which the Sumerians thought of as a land of paradise. Before oil was discovered, people in Qatif were mostly merchants, farmers, and fishermen. After oil fields were developed in the 1940s, Qatif became less important as a port. Since the 1990s, it has focused on the oil industry, public services, education, and healthcare.

Many travelers visited Qatif. One famous traveler, Abulfeda, described it as a beautiful town with well-kept people, located on the coast of the Persian Sea. Another traveler, Ibn Battuta, noted that Qatif's name comes from fruit picking. He described it as a large city with many palm trees, home to different groups of Shiite Arabs.

Qatif is a green oasis with rich farming soil, even though it's surrounded by desert. It has many palm trees and natural springs. The Persian Gulf to the east has warm, calm waters full of fish, shrimp, and pearls. To the west is the Al-Dahna Desert with its golden sands. Important places in Qatif include the old city areas of Qala'a and Awamiya, Tarout Castle, and Darin Castle. Darin Castle was built in the 15th century to protect against attacks. There are also traditional markets like the Khamis market. Old statues found here have been moved to the National Museum in Riyadh for safekeeping.

Quick facts for kids Qatif ٱلْقَطِيف
Qatif Location in Saudi Arabia
Country	Saudi Arabia
Province	Eastern Province (Ash Sharqiyah)
Area
• Total	611 km2 (236 sq mi)
Population  (2017)
• Total	625,092
Time zone	+3 GMT
Area code(s)	+966 13

History of Qatif

The historical Qatif Souq (market).

For many centuries, Qatif was the most important trading port in Eastern Arabia. The name Qatif means "harvest" or "grain." This shows how important farming was in the area's past.

The first signs of people living in this oasis go back to about 3500 BC. Qatif was also known by other names, like Al-Khatt. This name was used in old poems. The word "Khatty" even became a special word for "spear" in poetry. This was because the region was famous for making spears.

Until the 18th century, Qatif was part of a larger historical area called the Province of Bahrain. This area also included Al-Hasa and the islands of present-day Bahrain.

Early Rulers

In 899, a group called the Qarmatians took over Qatif and Al-Hasa. They ruled independently until 1071. Later, the Buyids from western Persia attacked Qatif in 988. In 1059, Qatif was freed from Qarmatian rule. From 1071 to 1253, the Uyunids ruled the region. They first ruled from "al-Hasa" and then from Qatif.

In 1253, the Usfurids took power from Al-Hasa. During this time, Qatif likely became the main port for the mainland. This made it the capital of the Usfurids. When Ibn Battuta visited Qatif in 1331, he found it to be a large, rich city. In 1440, power shifted to the Jabrids from the Al-Hasa oasis.

Portuguese and Ottoman Influence

In 1515, the Portuguese took over Hormuz. They attacked Qatif in 1520, killing the Jabrid ruler. The Portuguese then invaded the island of Bahrain and stayed there for 80 years. In 1549, the Ottomans took control of Qatif. However, they could not remove the Portuguese from Bahrain. In 1551, the Portuguese conquered Qatif again.

In 1680, the Al Humayd of the Banu Khalid took control from the weak Ottoman soldiers in Hofuf. In 1790, the Banu Khalid lost their rule to the "First Saudi State." In 1818, the Saudi State was defeated in a war. An Egyptian commander took control of Hofuf but left the next year. The Humayd regained control until they were finally defeated in 1830 by the "Second Saudi State." The Ottomans returned in 1871 and stayed until 1913. That's when Ibn Saud finally established Saudi rule in the Eastern Province.

Panorama of Tarout old village on top of Tarout's castle.

Qatif's Food

Qatif has traditional Arab food, sharing many dishes with nearby areas. However, it is known for some special dishes:

• Kabaji [ar]
• Mary's bread [ar]
• Mahmous (Roasted rice)

Climate

Qatif has a desert climate. In summer, temperatures can reach 50 °C (122 °F). The air is often humid, around 75%. In winter, temperatures are cooler, between 2 and 18 °C (36 and 64 °F). In May and June, warm winds called albwarh affect the area. The rest of the year, moist southern winds, called alcos, bring humidity. There is not much rainfall in Qatif.

People of Qatif

The Qatif region has the largest number of Shia Muslims in Saudi Arabia. Less than 10% of people in Qatif are Sunni Muslims. Qatif is the main center for the Shia population in Saudi Arabia. Since 2005, the government has made it easier to celebrate Day of Ashura in public.

In 2022, Qatif had a total population of 552,442 people. Qatif has one of the lowest numbers of non-Saudi residents in the country. Most people in Qatif are Arab Baharna. They have a culture and way of speaking very similar to the Baharna people of Bahrain. There are also some Bedouin people from the Bani Khalid and Bani Hajer tribes. They live in villages like Anak and Um Al-Sahek. Some Sunni Gulf Arabs live in the villages of Darin and Al-Zour.

Culture and Traditions

Husseini rituals during Ashura in Qatif.

Qatif holds several religious events throughout the year. The most important ones are Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. Other celebrations include Qarqi'an and events for the birthdays and deaths of Muhammad and the twelve Imams.

At the start of each Hijri year, Qatif is decorated with black, red, and green flags. These flags are on houses, streets, and alleys. This shows a time of mourning called the Ashura season. It lasts from the beginning of Muharram until the end of Safar. This period remembers the death of Hussein bin Ali, who was Muhammad's grandson, in the Battle of Karbala. These days are very important for most people in Qatif. Shops close, and no weddings take place. People avoid signs of joy and wear black or dark clothes.

During these days, there are Hussaini Majlises. These are religious or educational talks given by religious leaders in Husseiniyas or mosques. People also perform Husseini rites. For 10 days, volunteers set up small stands in squares and streets. They give out free food, sweets, and drinks. Mahmous, a local black-colored dish, is often served during Ashura to show sadness.

Traditionally, after Safar ends, people go to the seashore to celebrate. When they return at sunset, they gather straw and burn it. This symbolizes burning away the signs of mourning. They also used to break pottery and old trays, but this custom is less common now.

Joyful festivals fill Qatif during Qarqi'an. This happens on the 15th of Sha’ban, which is the birthday of Al-Mahdi. This day is called Al-Nasifah. It also happens on the 15th of Ramadan, which is the birthday of Hassan bin Ali, and is called Karikshon. Qarqi'an is an old custom in Bahrain, Qatif, and other parts of the Persian Gulf. People celebrate, have feasts, wear new clothes, and light candles. Children aged 4 to 12 go out into the streets of old villages. Mosques get ready for visitors, and people share sweets and food. Girls wear traditional clothes and have henna designs. Children sing folk songs as they walk around with big bags to collect candy from houses.

Economy

Water tower

Saudi Aramco, the national oil company of Saudi Arabia, finished the Qatif Project in October 2004. This project helps produce, process, and transport oil. It handles 80,000 cubic metres per day (500,000 bbl/d) of light crude oil from the Qatif field and 48,000 m³/d (300,000 bbl/d) of medium crude oil from the Abu Sa'fah field. This makes a total of 130,000 m³/d (800,000 bbl/d) of oil, plus natural gas.

Many people in Qatif work in the oil industry. Companies like Saudi Aramco, Schlumberger, Halliburton, and Baker Hughes employ them. Some employees have moved to Dhahran, where these companies are located. However, most still live in Qatif and travel to Dhahran by car or bus, which takes about 50 minutes. Others work in Aramco oil refineries in Ras Tanura. Some also work in petrochemical companies in Jubail, which is about 80 km from Qatif. SABIC is the largest employer in Qatif. Many Qatif residents also work in public services, healthcare, and education.

The Qatif coastline is rich in shrimp and many kinds of fish. The Qatif Fish Market is the largest in the Middle East. Qatif's villages are also known for having many date palms and other fruits.

From March 8 to April 29, 2020, Qatif was put under lockdown by Saudi Arabia. This was due to cases of COVID-19.

Education

The government and Saudi Aramco have built many schools in Qatif. These schools are for all ages, from elementary to secondary school. Most schools are public, meaning they are owned by the government. There are also some private schools.

Tourism

Tarout Castle

Tarout old village.

Qatif is known for its traditional markets, called suqs. These include the weekly Thursday Market "Suq Alkhamees" and "Suq Waqif."

• There is a nice walking area along its shore.
• Tarout castle is located on Tarout Island.
• You can find the ancient castle ruins of Qal'at al-Qatif.
• There is an old Turkish bath called Abu Loza's Bath.
• Qatif has large farming areas with many different plants and palm trees.
• Qatif also has a rich historical past. Different civilizations have lived here over centuries. This can be seen in the old buildings in villages like Al-Awamiyah, Al-Qudaih, and Al Qala'a.
• Various festivals are held throughout the year, such as Aldoukhala and Eid festivals.

Transport

Airport

For air travel, people use King Fahd International Airport. The airport is about 30 km (19 mi) from the city center.

Highways

Qatif is connected to other Saudi cities by highways. The main ones are the Dhahran-Jubail Highway, which goes through Qatif, and Abu Hadriyah Highway. The Abu Hadriyah Highway forms Qatif's western border and separates it from King Fahd International Airport. The Gulf Road connects Qatif with Dammam.

Qatif is also close to the King Fahd Causeway. This causeway connects Saudi Arabia with the country of Bahrain. It is about 55 km (35 mi) away.

Towns and Villages

Here are some of the towns and villages that make up the Qatif area:

Images for kids

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  A pottery jar for preserving liquids from around 3000 BC. It was found in an old castle in Qatif.

See also

In Spanish: Qatif para niños