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Encyclopedia :
D :
DH :
DHA :
Dhahran |
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DhahranDhahran (Aramco code: DH) (Arabic language الظهران al-Dahrān), or Dharan is a city in Saudi Arabia. It is located in the eastern part of the country, on the shores of the Persian Gulf. It is a short distance south of the larger city of Dammam. Dhahran is a fenced in city, and only Saudi Aramco employees and their dependents may live inside. Sometimes Dhahran Hills is used to refer to any or all compounds rather than the Main Camp's Dhahran Hills. Dhahran is a major center for the oil industry. Large oil reserves were first identified in the Dhahran area in 1931, and in 1935, the Standard Oil company of the United States drilled the first commercially viable oil well. Standard Oil later established a subsidiary in Saudi Arabia called the Arabian American Oil Company (ARAMCO), the forerunner to the modern Saudi Aramco (now fully owned by the Saudi government). the Gulf War, a significant number of United States military personnel were stationed in Dhahran. Some of these personnel remained in the city after the conclusion of the war, operating under Army Forces Central Command - Saudi Arabia (ARCENT-SA). On June 25, 1996, 19 American servicemen died in a terrorist bombing at Khobar Towers, a U.S. military complex near Dhahran which eventually led to the departure of US Forces in 2001. Dhahran had the old Dhahran King Fahd Air Terminal. The new airport, Dhahran International Airport, is located outside of the city and serves Dammam. The old airport is now called King Abdulaziz Airbase, a major Royal Saudi Air Force base. Dhahran is home to the King Fahd University for Petroleum and Minerals and Aramco Training Center (ATC) which includes the campus of the selective College Preparatory Center. Geography and geologyLongitude: 50°09'0. Latitude: 26°16'N. Altitude a.s.l.: 26 m. Dhahran is a short distance north to Khobar and about 15km south to Dammam.The area is hilly/rocky and most of the early Saudi oil-wells were drilled in that area (such as "Dammam Well #7: Prosperity Well," the first commercially viable oil well in Saudi Arabia in the 1930's). Which later helped the city become the headquarters of Saudi Aramco.
EconomyAramco has built its headquarters in Dhahran. Aramco is considered by many measures to be the largest oil company in the world. The largest oil reservoir in the world is owned by Aramco, it produces more oil per day than any other country or company in the world. Most of the produced oil is exported, Aramco is also the largest oil exporter in the world. (See: Saudi Aramco) Dhahran is still Saudi Aramco's worldwide headquarters, and the center for the company's finance, exploration, engineering, drilling services, medical services, materials supply and other company organisations. Aramco has a very large multi-national workforce, totaling over 56,000, including approximately 9,000 expatriates from around the world. Dhahran today is not involved in oil business and operations more than being headquarters and office buildings of Saudi Aramco.
Demographicshas several self-contained communities to house its employees in the Eastern Province. Dhahran is the largest community, with a total population of about 11,300, including approximately 6,200 North Americans (employees, spouses and children). Inhabitants of Dhahran are mainly Americans and other western ethnicities (mainly British and Canadians). Many commercial malls were built in Khobar and was economically prospered due to the flow of customers coming from Dhahran. Bahrain, a popular destination on holidays, is connected via the 16-mile-long King Fahd Causeway.
Government and lawin Dhahran are completely distinct from the rest of Saudi Arabia, law enforcement forces (in addition to health care and fire protection) are all responsibilities of Saudi Aramco, thus most Saudi government laws are not applicable in Dhahran. Women can drive freely in Dhahran and have no special code of clothes (unlike the rest of the kingdom). Safety is an extremely serious issue and can lead to termination or other severe consequenses if safety rules are not obeyed. The de facto government of Dhahran consists of some departments of Saudi Aramco that are related, such as Loss Prevention Department, Industrial Security Department, Community Services Department, Fire Protection Department...etc. Saudi Special Forces Eastern Province headquarters are located 1km away from the main gate of Dhahran, however they are theoretically not allowed to enter the city unless some serious security issue has occurred. The Saudi Aramco's Industrial Security Department is the traffic, sercurity, and safety enforement service. In addition to regular law enforcement forces, it operates K-9; the Special Search Unit. It is notable that the K-9 has been active since terrorist attacks hit other parts of the country. Although most terrorist attacks that hit Saudi Arabia (1998-2004) targeted westerners, no single incident occurred in Dhahran, despite it is home to most American expatriates in the country. Transportationin Dhahran was mainly designed to serve it as the oil center of the world, thus the roads in Dhahran are the best in condition in the entire country. There is an industrial railroad station adjacent to Dhahran. One of 3 international airports is a short distance west of Dhahran (Dhahran International Airport). Dammam seaport is easy to reach. Ras Tanura, the second major oil city (an oil seaport and oil-refining and storing center) is 50km north of Dhahran and connected with it by one highway. Aramco runs a free-of-charge Bus service that serves all residents to/from Dhahran. There are basically no traffic jams in Dhahran even in rush hours (with the exception of the security gates and around the core area). However, all traffic lights in Dhahran are computer-controlled to maximize the traffic flow.
CommunicationsInformation Technology Department of Saudi Aramco administrates all communication in Dhahran. All telecom services are provided for free, as well as home internet (except ADSL). The ITD does not supervise mobile communications, mobile services are provided by STC.ClimateThe weather in Dhahran, like much of the gulf area, is mainly warm. The summers are usually very hot and humid while the winters are cold. All buildings and houses are air conditioned by central air conditioning facilities. Infrastructure of Dhahran include an underground watering system for each tree and all grassed areas. MediaNewspapers and magazinesAll local papers are either owned by Saudi Aramco or special interest groups (SIGs), and they are all free. The main weekly is the Arabian Sun paper. Most Saudi Aramco owned papers and magazines are available online on Aramco's official website (anyone may subscribe for a hard copy free of charge). The papers that are owned by SIGs are available online only through Saudi Aramco's internal network. TelevisionDhahran used to be the only city in the whole region to have its own television channel (Channel 3, shut down in the 1990's). NBC, FOX, CNN, and other major channels broadcast in Dhahran through free cables. Sites of interestMore informationThe following text has been adapted from Aramco's relocation and orientation guide for new employees.The community of Dhahran is composed of 2 sections: Dhahran main camp and Dhahran Hills. These 2 sections are separated by Dhahran's 27 hole Rolling Hills golf course and club house. The term 'camp' has stuck with Dhahran and the other communities, since its early development in the 1930's and 40's. However, in reality, Dhahran is an attractive community with tree-lined streets, stone houses and grass lawns. Dhahran main camp is located at the site of the original Dhahran camp and contains the administration complex, health centre, dental clinic, dining hall, library and theatre. The community's Al Mujamma service centre (seen in the image) is a mall-type complex which houses the mail centre, barber shop, travel office, photo shop, laundry, dry cleaners, housing office, community bulletin boards and ticket office for community events. The supermarket and florist are adjacent to Al Mujamma, as is the bank. The Dhahran dining hall is also on the main camp, not far from Al Mujamma. There are 2 recreation complexes on the main camp. One complex is next to the middle school and includes a youth centre, swimming pool, gym, tennis courts, squash courts and games fields. The other is situated near the community library. Included in this complex is the bowling alley, movie theatre, games room and dance hall. Most homes in the main camp are constructed of brick or fieldstone, and many have undergone recent modernisation. There are also some newer, modular homes in this area. The gardens and landscaped areas of these homes are surprisingly green with large shade trees and flowering bougainvillea and oleanders. Dhahran Hills, which is mostly residential, is located about 2 miles west of Dhahran main camp, just beyond the community's golf course. Most houses in the hills were constructed in the early 80's. The Dhahran Hills school, for kids aged 5-10, is located in the hills. Adjacent to the school is a large community recreation centre similar to the ones in the main camp. Dhahran also has a hobby farm (horse stables), bike/jogging paths and a rugby field. Dhahran's marina and adjoining beach facility is at Half Moon Bay, a small inlet of the Arabian Gulf. It is just 40 minutes from the community of Dhahran. Sailing, fishing and water-skiing facilities are available. Al-Munirah is a compund in Dhahran but outside the main camp and the Hills, it is designated for junior staff (as Dhahran Hills and the Main Camp are resided by senior staff and their families). Ar-Rabiyah, a compund that is "attached" to Dhahran, is exclusively reserved for managers and executive vice presidents and their families. Ar-Rabiyah is also considered one of the classiest compounds in the whole region, even to being referred to as the "Golden Ghetto" (also see Beverly Hills which was created by the Amalgamated Oil Company - similiar story). Sister/twin citiesDhahran is a sister city of Houston, Texas. In addition, though Dhahran is the largest in terms of area and population, it is one of four cities that follow the same style; only parts of Ras Tanura, Abqaiq, and Udhayliah have the similar appearance and services of Dhahran, as they are home to Saudi Aramco's employees in remote areas. Ras Tanura is the refining and sea port center, Udhayliah and Abqaiq are mainly plants centers, whereas Dhahran today is not involved in oil business and operations more than being headquarters and office buildings of Saudi Aramco, and having the underground (in-mountain) oil operations controlling facilities. (Also see NORAD, same concept of protection) lk';k';lk' Major yearly eventsPrior to year 2000, the city had special events in the Fourth of July and Christmas. Dhahran in film and TVSee alsoExternal links
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