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Jubail

City in Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia

  • 7 min read
  • 8 chapters
مرسى القوارب بالجبيل الصناعية
Aaiq2005 · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Jubail comprises the Old Town of Al Jubail (Jubail Balad), which was a small fishing village until 1975, and the Industrial Area. Jubail Industrial City is the largest civil engineering project in the world today. In 1975, the Saudi government designated Jubail as the site for a new industrial city, with rapid expansion and industrialization arising. The new industrial and residential areas were named Madīnat al Jubayl aṣ Ṣinā`īyah (Jubail Industrial City). The 2005 Census Report for Jubail Industrial City estimates the population at 224,430 residents.

History

The town of Al-Jubail, on the Persian Gulf coast of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has ancient roots. Human habitation dates back at least 7,000 years, when the people of Dilmun — whose civilization radiated up and down the coast of the Persian Gulf — established a settlement there. Archaeological place: Crease Tower or Tuwayah Tower was constructed around 1928. It was key source of water for Jubail. In September 1933, Jubail gained a measure of fame as the landing site for the first team of geologists to explore for oil in Saudi Arabia.

The origins of Jubail date back to the early Islamic period when it was known as 'Aynayn (Arabic: عينين), meaning "two springs." The settlement was known for its sweet water springs, date palm groves, and its status as a cultural and literary center.

At some point, the original settlement of 'Aynayn was abandoned. The modern town of Jubail was established around 1911 and became a center for fishing and pearling. The town came under Saudi rule in 1913 when King 'Abd al-Aziz regained the al-Hasa Province.

1930s

Jubail experienced economic challenges during the 20th century. The global economic depression and the rise of Japan’s cultured pearl industry in the 1930s caused a decline in the traditional pearling trade, which had been a key industry for the town. At its peak, Jubail had supported over 200 pearling boats, but this number rapidly dwindled as cultured pearls became dominant.

The arrival of oil exploration teams in the 1930s briefly revitalized the town. Jubail was chosen as a base for early geological surveys due to its harbor, freshwater springs, and favorable terrain. On September 23, 1933, geologists from Standard Oil Company of California, including Robert Miller, Schuyler "Krug" Henry, and Karl Twitchell, arrived in Jubail to conduct exploratory work. However, as oil exploration activities shifted to Dhahran and Khobar, Jubail reverted to being a minor fishing center.

Modern Development

Prior to its industrial transformation, Jubail was primarily a fishing community. As of 1972, the town boasted a fishing fleet of approximately 160 boats, with catches including shrimp and small sharks that were renowned as far as Kuwait and Riyadh.

Jubail’s transformation began in the early 1970s when the Saudi government initiated plans to develop it into a major industrial city. This initiative was part of a broader strategy to diversify the Kingdom's economy and leverage its vast natural gas reserves. Jubail was selected as the site for a massive industrial complex due to its strategic location and existing infrastructure.

The city's redevelopment included the construction of refineries, petrochemical plants, steel mills, aluminum facilities, and desalination plants. To support this industrialization, extensive infrastructure was developed, including new ports, roads, pipelines, and an airport. Thousands of workers were relocated to Jubail to operate the facilities, and the city was redesigned to accommodate the growing population.

Today, Jubail is home to the Jubail Industrial City, one of the world's largest petrochemical industrial hubs, managed by the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu. It is a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia's industrial and economic strategy, contributing significantly to the country's non-oil exports.

Iran targeted Jubail for strikes in the 2026 Iran War.

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