Dhahran

Dhahran (Arabic الظهران aẓ-Ẓahrān, meaning "the two backs") is a city in Saudi Arabia located in the country's Eastern Province not far from the Persian Gulf a short distance south of the larger port city of Dammam. Dhahran is, technically speaking, a fenced-in company compound, and only Saudi Aramco employees and their dependents may live inside. However, because the town's name is also used for the international airport (DHA) and US consulate, both located outside the Saudi Aramco compound, "Dhahran" is often used for convenience to refer to the larger metropolitan area that includes (Al-)Khobar, (Al-)Dammam, and many private residential compounds, all of which have grown together into a single megalopolis of over 1 million inhabitants.

External links

• Saudi Aramco Community Services Department - Dhahran Area: The official website of Saudi Aramco for the community of Dhahran.
• Travel guide with photos
• Saudi Aramco World: A 1963 article about Dhahran TV.
• History of Dhahran (1950's)
• General information about Dhahran, useful for first time visitors
• Aramco Services Company site: By clicking the "communities" link, information and photo tour can be found about Dhahran as well as other Aramco communities.
• Satellite Image from TerraServer.com
• Satellite Image from Google Maps