Life in the Eastern Province
The Eastern Province is the largest province in Saudi Arabia. Geographically, It is bordered by Jordon on the North West, Iraq on the North & North East, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and United Arab Emirates on East. Oman on the South East & Yemen on the South. Dammam is the capital of the province with Dhahran and Al-Khobar so close to each other that they have merged into one district. The industrial city, Jubail is located on the coast further north .As you, travel west you will see plenty of plateaus, valleys and sand dunes. Historically, the Eastern Province has been an important port on the spice and trade routes between Asia and Europe. Excavations carried out by the Deputy Ministry of Antiquities and Museums have resulted in the registration of over 300 archaeological sites from the Paleolithic to the Islamic period.

Population:

Almost 27,000,000
6,000,000 of them non-nationals (July 2007)

Language:
  • Arabic is spoken by almost 200 million people in more than 22 countries.
  • There are differences between the dialects spoken in urban areas and those spoken in rural areas.
Climate:

Hot & high humidity in the summer, hot in the spring and fall, and moderate during the winter months.

Islamic Calendar:
  • Al-Hijrah, dating from emigration of the Prophet Muhammad in 622 AD from Makkah to Medina.

Saudi Telecom:

  • The country code is +966
  • Riyadh Area Code +966 1
  • Jeddah , Makkah, Taif Area Code +966 2
  • Madina,Tabouk, Yanbu Area Code +966 4

Official Holidays:


Friday is the weekly day of rest, but government offices are also closed on Thursday. There are also two public holidays every year.

  • Eid AlFitr, which is over a week long
  • Eid Al-Adha, which is ten days .

Saudi Currency:

  • Saudi Riyal (SR) pegged to U.S. Dollar ($1=SR3.75)
  • There are eight bank notes, in Arabic and English, in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500-Riyal notes.

Transportation:

Roads:
The roads system in Saudi enjoys a comprehensive road network linking its cities together. It's considered one of the finest and most modern networks in the world.

Airports:
In Dammam, King Fahad International Airport Saudi Arabian Airlines and a large number of international airlines operate from these airports. Flying in via Bahrain is also a viable option.

Rail:
Six Trains service with first class air-conditioned carriages runs daily between Riyadh & Dammam on the Gulf coast.

Taxis:
Taxi transport within the cities is common. Buses: Saudi Arabian Public Transport Company ( SAPTCO) to operate between all the major towns in Saudi Arabia in addition to international trips to some of the neighboring countries.

Ports:
King Abdullaziz port, located on the Arabian Gulf coast founded in 1950.

Traffic Rules:

  • Women are not allowed to drive
  • Do not drive over the speed limit
  • Do not drive without a valid license
  • Do not use cell phone while driving
  • Do not park the vehicle in a "No Parking" lot.
  • Men under the age of 18 are not allowed to drive

Things to do in the Eastern Province:

  • Shopping malls
  • Restaurants
  • Children's centers
  • Groceries and hypermarkets
  • Electronic & electrical showrooms
  • Health clubs
  • Hotels
  • Beaches
  • Fish markets
  • Exhibitions
  • Car showrooms
  • Trips and picnics
  • Eastern Province Diving
  • Al-Hasa Bird Watching Tarut Bay Bird Watching
  • Off Road in the Sands
  • Al-Hasa Date Palms
  • Jebel Garah Caving
  • Qasr Ibrahim - Al-Hofuf Visiting Malls ( Marina Mall -Cornish Road), Al Shate Mall (Cornish Road), Al Waha
           Mall (1st Street in Dammam)
  • Ben Khaldoon Plaza (King Fahad St. next to Fire Station)
  • Hayat Plaza (King Saud St.)
  • Al Dana Mall (City Center next to Al Rajhi Bank)
  • Al Rashid Mall (Dhahran Rd)
  • Dhahran Mall (Old Airport Rd)
  • Fuoad Center (Khobar Cornish)
  • Jumaah Center (Khobar Cornish)
  • Al Essa Mall (Dhahran St.)
  • Al Rahmaniyah Mall (Dhahran St.)
  • Al Khobar Mall (Dammam-Khobar Road)
  • Khobar Plaza (Prince Bandar St.)
  • Al Turki Shopping Center (Khobar Cornish)
  • Al Joharah Center (Dhahran Road)
  • Heritage Village Restaurant & Museum (Dammam Cornish)
  • Shezar, Indian Rest. (Dammam Cornish)
  • Copper Chandni, Indian Rest. (Dammam Cornish)
  • Dareen, Sea Food Rest. (Dammam Cornish)
  • Tandoori House (Dhahran St. & Prince Faisal St.)
  • Copper Chandni, Indian Rest. (Prince Faisal St.)
  • China Town (Dhahran St, Rashid Mall & Cornish)
  • Dareen, Sea Food Rest. (Cornish next to Police Station)
  • Fish Market Rest. (Cornish Marina Complex)
  • TGI Friday, Chillies, Sanbok, Gondola, Friends, Pizza Hut, China
  • Tandoori, Pitte France, Mondos, Appleby’s, Casper & Gambini’s
  • Al Hokair Park (Dammam Cornish)
  • Park of King Fahad (Dhahran-Dammam Road) Toy Town (Dammam Cornish)
  • Marina Mall (Dammam Cornish)
  • Dolphin Park (Dammam Cornish)
  • Toy Town (Fouad Center)
  • Fun Oasis (Al Rashid Mall)
  • Sparky’s (Dhahran Mall)
  • Amusement Park (Giant Stores-sea Road Branch)
  • Prince Mohammed Recreation City (Half Moon Beach)
  • Giant Store (King Saud St.,Morikbat)
  • Azizya Store (Ibn Khaldoon Mall King Fahad St.)
  • Tamimi Market (Jubail Road) Farm 1 (1st Street)
  • Giant Store (1Sea Road, 2Aqrabiya)
  • Azizya Store (1 Old Airport St., 2 Prince Faisal St.)
  • Tamimi Market (1 Cornich Road, 2vAqrabiya)
  • Farm 8,9,10 (Al Danah, Dhahran Road, Golden Belt)
  • Géant Store (Dhahran Mall) Carrefour (Next to Al Rashid Mall)
  • Carrefour (Al Rashid Mall) Extra (Sea Road)
  • Geant Store (Dhahran Mall)
  • King Khalid St (City Center)
  • Al Dossari Tower (Dhahran Road)
  • King Fahad St (City Center)

Emergency Numbers:

Fire: 998
Ambulance: 997
Police: 999
Road Accident: 993
Road Safety: 996
Mobile phone Services : 902
Mobily Services : 0560101100
Telephone & Pager Services : 907
Directory : 905
Speaking Clock : 1222
Saudi Post Service : 920005700
Drug Traffic Control: 995
Coastal Station: 994


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