Hofuf

Al-Hofuf (Arabic:ٱلْهُفُوفal-Hufūf, also spelledHofuf orHufuf, also known as "Al-Hasa", "Al-Ahsa" or "Al-Hassa")^[2] is the major urban city in theAl-Ahsa Governorate in theEastern Province ofSaudi Arabia, with a population of 729,606 (as of 2022). It is known for being one of the largestdate producing areas in the world, and for its old markets and palaces.

Al Hofuf ٱلْهُفُوف
Sahood Fort in Hofuf
Al Hofuf Location in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Coordinates:25°23′N49°35′E / 25.383°N 49.583°E /25.383; 49.583
Country	Saudi Arabia
Province	Eastern
Government
• Mayor	Saud bin Talal
• Provincial governor	Saud bin Nayef Al Saud
Elevation	154 m (505 ft)
Population (2022)
• Total	729,606
	^[1]
Time zone	UTC+3
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3
Postal Code	(5 digits)
Area code	+966-13
Website	www.Hofuf.gov.sa^{[permanent dead link‍]}

Overview

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The city proper has a population of 150,000 and is part of a larger populated oasis area of towns and villages, with a total population of around 600,000. It is located inland from thePersian Gulf, southwest ofAbqaiq and theDhahran–Dammam–Al-Khobar metropolitan area on the road south toHaradh. It is the closest city to the famousGhawar oil field, one of the world's largest conventional (land-based) fields.

Legend places Hofuf as the burial place ofLaila and Majnoon, the star-crossed pair of the most popular love story in the Arab and Muslim world. TheQueen of Sheba is also fabled to have visited this city from herkingdom inSouth Arabia.^{[citation needed]} German explorerHermann Burchardt photographed the city in 1904.^[3]

History

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Hofuf was the headquarters of the Ottoman administration since 1871 when it was captured by the Ottoman Empire. It remained under Ottoman control until 1913, when it was captured by members of theWahhabi movement, underIbn Saud. In 1932, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was founded and Hofuf has been among the kingdom's cities since.^[4]

Economy

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Historically, Hofuf made textiles out ofwool, silk, and cotton. The town was also renowned for its fruit of the date palm, the Arabs considering thekhalasi variety of dates, locally grown in Hofuf, and also thefardh variety ofOman, among the best.^[5] As of 1920, the city was known for makingcoffee pots from silver andbrass.^[6]

Climate

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Al Hofuf has a hot desert climate (Köppen climate classificationBWh) with long, very hot summers and mild, short winters.

Climate data for Al Ahsa (1991–2020)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	32.7 (90.9)	37.8 (100.0)	41.8 (107.2)	45.0 (113.0)	49.0 (120.2)	50.6 (123.1)	50.8 (123.4)	50.8 (123.4)	48.9 (120.0)	46.0 (114.8)	38.1 (100.6)	33.0 (91.4)	50.8 (123.4)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	22.0 (71.6)	24.8 (76.6)	29.6 (85.3)	35.7 (96.3)	41.8 (107.2)	45.0 (113.0)	46.1 (115.0)	45.9 (114.6)	42.8 (109.0)	37.7 (99.9)	29.4 (84.9)	23.8 (74.8)	35.4 (95.7)
Daily mean °C (°F)	15.0 (59.0)	17.4 (63.3)	21.8 (71.2)	27.5 (81.5)	33.4 (92.1)	36.6 (97.9)	37.9 (100.2)	37.3 (99.1)	34.0 (93.2)	29.1 (84.4)	22.0 (71.6)	16.7 (62.1)	27.4 (81.3)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	9.0 (48.2)	10.9 (51.6)	14.7 (58.5)	20.0 (68.0)	25.2 (77.4)	28.1 (82.6)	29.8 (85.6)	29.2 (84.6)	25.8 (78.4)	21.2 (70.2)	15.5 (59.9)	10.8 (51.4)	20.0 (68.0)
Record low °C (°F)	−2.3 (27.9)	1.0 (33.8)	0.7 (33.3)	7.3 (45.1)	17.0 (62.6)	18.3 (64.9)	19.8 (67.6)	19.7 (67.5)	17.3 (63.1)	13.0 (55.4)	5.8 (42.4)	0.8 (33.4)	−2.3 (27.9)
Averageprecipitation mm (inches)	13.1 (0.52)	11.4 (0.45)	14.4 (0.57)	12.5 (0.49)	3.1 (0.12)	0.0 (0.0)	0.1 (0.00)	0.7 (0.03)	0.0 (0.0)	1.3 (0.05)	13.6 (0.54)	18.7 (0.74)	88.8 (3.50)
Average precipitation days(≥ 0.1 mm)	2.0	1.7	2.4	2.0	0.4	0.0	0.1	0.1	0.0	0.1	1.5	1.7	12
Averagerelative humidity (%)	55	49	44	38	27	22	23	30	33	39	47	56	39
Source:World Meteorological Organization,^[7] Jeddah Regional Climate Center^[8]

Education

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The faculties of agriculture, veterinary medicine and animal resources forKing Faisal University are located in the city (the others being inDammam). The Hofuf campus also has facilities where Saudi women can study medicine, dentistry and home economics.

Transportation

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Airport

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The city is mainly served byKing Fahd International Airport which is 160 km away inDammam. Hofuf is also home to a small airport of its own,Al-Ahsa International Airport, which mainly offers domestic flights and flights toDubai. DuringOperation Desert Shield and theGulf War in 1991, Al-Ahsa Airport also served as an air base for theFrench Air Force.

Railway

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The city has a railway station connecting the city with the capital Riyadh to the west and Dammam to the north. All railways in Saudi Arabia are operated bySaudi Arabia Railways.

Services at Hofuf station