Jubail City

Jubail City is a Saudi city on the coast of the Arabian Gulf that brings together a long maritime history built on fishing and the pearl trade and a modern industrial present led by the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu.[2][1]

The city contains major ports and industrial facilities, alongside beaches, parks and gardens that serve its residents and visitors, and an educational standing crowned by the UNESCO Global Award for Best Learning City.[3][10]

The name Jubail traces back to Al-Jabal Al-Bahri, as it was derived from a small hill that was located inside the port.[2]

Al-Jabal Al-Bahri lies about 300 metres north-east of Jubail City and was the focus for the emergence of one of the most important fishing and pearl-trading areas on the Arabian Gulf coast; it retains historical names such as Al-Souq, Al-Khaznah and Al-Birkah.[2]

The city stands on the coast of the Eastern Province overlooking the Arabian Gulf, alongside coastal cities including Dammam.[2]

The charter of the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu was issued by Royal Decree No. (M/75) dated 16/9/1395 AH.[1]

The charter was amended by a Council of Ministers decision issued in 1442 AH (2020), in line with Saudi Vision 2030.[1]

The Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu's celebration of fifty years since its establishment coincided with the announcement that the city would host the Sixth International Conference on Learning Cities.[11]

Al-Tawiya Tower is the most prominent of Jubail's archaeological landmarks and one of the witnesses to the city's emergence.[3]

Alongside Al-Tawiya Tower, Al-Jabal Al-Bahri keeps its standing as a witness to the fishing and pearl civilisation that arose in the city.[2]

Jubail Commercial Port opened in 1397 AH, and all its facilities were completed in 1400 AH.[4]

The port set a record in container handling from a single vessel, with 7584 standard containers aboard the ship (CAP SAN TAINARO) of the Maersk line.[8]

Container handling rose by 27 percent in September 2021, with more than 53,000 standard containers compared with the same period of the previous year.[6]

Handled goods totalled 6,962,495 tonnes in the first half of 2018, against 5,061,402 tonnes in the same period of 2017, an increase of 38 percent.[7]

King Fahd Industrial Port in Jubail received the International Diamond Star Award and the Certificate of Excellence for Total Management for 2006, for the second time.[9]

The development of the first phase of Jubail 2 covered the basic infrastructure for a site of about 1950 hectares, at a cost of two billion, five hundred and forty-nine million riyals.[5]

This industrial sector is linked to national development tracks, including the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program, and the role of the Saudi Industrial Development Fund in supporting Saudi industry.[1]

Jubail overlooks the Arabian Gulf with seven beaches: five in Jubail Industrial City and two in Jubail City.[3]

Jubail Industrial City has eight parks, while Jubail City has 20 gardens.[3]

Jubail Industrial City won the UNESCO Global Award for Best Learning City in the world in 2021.[10]

The city, represented by the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu, hosted the Sixth International Conference on Learning Cities 2024 (ICLC6) from 3 to 5 December 2024, under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.[11]

The employment rates of graduates of Jubail Industrial College and Jubail Technical Institute reached 84 percent by the end of 2023, and the graduation ceremony honoured 2893 students.[12]

The restoration and adoption of the historical names of the neighbourhoods of Jubail Governorate was approved in 1441 AH (2019).[13]

Q: Where does Jubail City lie? A: On the coast of the Arabian Gulf, and it includes Jubail Industrial City alongside the existing city.[3]

Q: What is the origin of the name Jubail? A: The name traces back to Al-Jabal Al-Bahri, and was derived from a small hill that was located inside the port.[2]

Q: What are the most prominent archaeological landmarks of Jubail? A: Al-Tawiya Tower as the most prominent archaeological landmark, and Al-Jabal Al-Bahri, the witness to the fishing and pearl civilisation.[2][3]

Q: What are the most prominent ports of Jubail? A: Jubail Commercial Port, which opened in 1397 AH, and King Fahd Industrial Port in Jubail.[4][9]

Q: What is Jubail's educational standing? A: Jubail Industrial City won the UNESCO Award for Best Learning City in 2021, and hosted the Sixth International Conference on Learning Cities 2024.[10][11]

Jubail City brings together a maritime location from which its name was derived and a history of fishing and pearls, a leading industrial system and ports, and an educational sector that has won global awards, along with beaches and gardens that serve its residents and visitors.[2][3][10]