Jubail

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Location of Jubail, Saudi Arabia.

Jubail (Arabic: "الجبيل" Al Jubayl), is a city in the Eastern province on the Persian Gulf coast of Saudi Arabia. Its full name is Madīnat al Jubayl aş Şinā`īyah (Jubail Industrial City). It has a population of 222,544 (2004 census), up 58% from the 1992 figure of 140,828.

In 1975, along with Yanbu' al Bahr, it was designated as a new industrial city by the Saudi government, and has seen rapid expansion and industrialisation since.

The industrial city is a complex of petrochemical plants, an iron works and a number of smaller companies, plus a Royal Saudi Naval Base.

[edit] History

Jubail from space, June 1996

The town of Al-Jubail on the Persian Gulf Coast of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has ancient roots. As long as 7,000 years ago, the people of Dilmun, whose civilization radiated up and down the Gulf, had established a settlement there.

Image:Http://www.the-saudi.net/saudi-arabia/jubail/ga0044.jpg

The first arrivals might have been encouraged to stay by the site’s fine natural harbor and the abundance of fish and pearl oysters just offshore. More importantly, the presence of potable water wells near the town ensured the continued viability of human settlement. In September 1933, Jubail gained a measure of fame as the landing site for the first team of geologists to explore for oil in The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In 1983, Jubail staked an even greater claim to fame. Jubail industrial city project was cited in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest engineering and construction project ever attempted. Today, the former stretch of sand dunes and salt flats north of old Jubail is now called Jubail Industrial City, Saudi Arabia’s biggest industrial center, host to more than 160 industrial enterprises and home to almost 70,000 full-time residents.

Jubail Industrial City:

Jubail Industrial City is a Saudi model that tells the story of planning combined with the will to achieve the comprehensive civic and industrial development seen today at all local, regional and international levels. There is no doubt that the advanced infrastructure of Jubail is the cornerstone which has allowed the various industrial, commercial and social sectors to establish themselves through integrated action. Jubail infrastructure has the capability to operate continuously without failure of power or supplies in any of the existing facilities while meeting community requirements within modern, high living standards where all the necessities of life and tourist and recreational facilities are available. However, we are still working to upgrade and expand the infrastructure to allow the private sector to participate in the growth and development of the city.

Additionally, Jubail has been able to attract the necessary Saudi operations and maintenance manpower, which has in turn, led to the establishment of a community from the various areas in Saudi Arabia. Jubail is indeed the result of the efforts of all the people of Saudi Arabia under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Fahd bin Abdulaziz.