Tabuk, Saudi Arabia

Tabuk
تبوك
Tabouk
Skyline of Tabuk
Tabuk
Coordinates: 28°23′50″N 36°34′44″E / 28.39722°N 36.57889°E / 28.39722; 36.57889Coordinates: 28°23′50″N 36°34′44″E / 28.39722°N 36.57889°E / 28.39722; 36.57889
Country  Saudi Arabia
Province Tabuk province
Elevation 760 m (2,490 ft)
Population (2010)
 • Total 534,893
Time zone UTC+3 (AST)
Snow in Tabuk
Tabuk, Saudi Arabia

Tabuk (Arabic: تبوك‎ Tabūk), also spelled Tabouk, is the capital city of the Tabuk Region in northwestern Saudi Arabia. It has a population of 534,893 (2010 census). It is close to the Jordan–Saudi Arabia border, and houses the largest air force base in Saudi Arabia.[1]

History

Ptolemy mentioned a place by the name 'Tabawa', at the northwestern corner of Arabia. This name may be a reference to 'Tabuka' or 'Tabuk'. If this is true, the town may be as old as Ptolemy's time. Pre-Islamic Arab poets, such as Antra and Nabiqa, mentioned its mountain 'Hasmi' in their poems.

Tabouk became famous for its association with the battle fought in 8 AH (630 ACE), during the period of Muhammad. Since then, it remained a gateway of North Arabia. It was also visited by a number of European travelers such as Doughty in 1294 AH (1877 ACE) and Huber in 1303 AH (1884 ACE).

Tabuk became a centre of military activity during the persian Gulf War as the city faced threats from Iraqi scuds and air attacks.

Archaeological or historical sites in the area

The region is rich in antiquities and archaeological sites such as petroglyphs, inscriptions, forts, palaces, walls, Syrian-Egyptian pilgrimage route, and the remains of the Hejaz Railway line, the main station of which is located in Tabuk.

Rock art and inscriptions' site in Wadi Dam

Hundreds of localities with Rock art and inscriptions dating to different chronological periods and ranging from Paleolithic to the Islamic period were recorded at Wadi Dam and the region west of Tabuk. Study of the art revealed rich stylistic variability and both human and animal figures were represented in it. Tens of sites in the area with Thamudic, Greek and Nabataean inscriptions have been found.

Tabuk Castle

It is also known as the castle of Aṣ-ḥāb al-Aykah (Arabic: أَصْـحَـاب الْأَيْـكَـة‎, "Companions of the Wood"), who are mentioned in the Quran.[2][3][4][5] The castle dates back to about 3500 BCE and has been restored many times; the last was in 1062 AH (1652 ACE). It was one of the several forts and stations built along the Syrian pilgrimage route to welcome pilgrims. Several forts and stations were built along the road from the Jordanian border to Al-Medinah to welcome the pilgrims. The fort consists of two floors. The first floor contains an open courtyard and a number of rooms, a mosque, a well, and a stairway leading to the watch towers used by the guards. The fort is considered an archaeological landmark of the region and is open to visitors.

Ain Sukkrah

This is an ancient ‘ayn (Arabic: عـيـن‎, 'spring') dating to the Era of Jahiliyyah (Arabic: جَـاهـلـيّـة‎, 'Ignorance'). It is said that during the invasion of Tabuk, Muhammad camped more than ten days near the spring and drank from its water.

The Prophet's Mosque in Tabuk

It is also known as the Repentance Mosque. It was originally built with mud and roofed with palm trunk trees. It was restored in 1062 AH (1652 ACE). Eventually, its complete renewal was ordered by the late King Faisal ibn Abdul-Aziz, along the pattern of the Prophet's Mosque in Al-Medinah.

Education

Universities include:

Private schools include:

  • British International School of Tabuk
  • International Indian School Tabuk
  • Pakistan International School of Tabuk
  • Philippine International School
  • King Abdulaziz Model schools
  • Tabuk International School
  • Bangladesh International School, Tabuk

Geography and climate

It has a desert's continental weather with hot summers and mild winters. Temperatures in the summer are between 26 and 46 °C, while in winter they are between −4 and 18°C, with widespread frosts. Snow is not uncommon, with temperatures reaching as low as −6 °C in some winters. Rainfall in Tabuk Area falls in the winter months from November to March, and precipitation ranges between 50 and 150 mm, with some not uncommon snow every 3–4 years. The boundaries of Tabuk region extends from the Saudi–Jordanian border in the north to the north of Al-Medinah Al-Munawwarah, and from the Red Sea on the west to the Hufa depression in the east. It lies at the junction of Hejaz mountain range and the plains of the north in the basin of sedimentary area. There is plenty of underground water and the area is surrounded by hills and wadis, the important of which are Wadi Al-Akhdar (the green valley), Wadi Damm and Wadi Asafir. The town of Tabuk is an important gateway in northern Arabia on the active pilgrimage and caravan trade routes.

Tabuk is the capital of the region which includes several administrative districts such Al-Wajh, Duba, Tayma, Umluj and Haql. Since antiquity Tabuk had trade and cultural contacts with the neighboring ancient civilizations of northern Arabia, such as Ash-Sham, Egypt and Mesopotamia. It has been mentioned by several historians and geographers as a town located on the ancient trade route between Yemen and Ash-Sham.

Climate data for Tabuk, Saudi Arabia (1985-2010)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 32.0
(89.6)		 33.2
(91.8)		 37.0
(98.6)		 39.0
(102.2)		 43.4
(110.1)		 44.2
(111.6)		 46.4
(115.5)		 46.0
(114.8)		 45.0
(113)		 39.5
(103.1)		 43.3
(109.9)		 32.0
(89.6)		 46.4
(115.5)
Average high °C (°F) 18.2
(64.8)		 20.7
(69.3)		 24.8
(76.6)		 30.5
(86.9)		 34.5
(94.1)		 37.8
(100)		 38.9
(102)		 39.3
(102.7)		 37.0
(98.6)		 32.2
(90)		 25.4
(77.7)		 19.8
(67.6)		 29.9
(85.8)
Daily mean °C (°F) 10.9
(51.6)		 12.1
(53.8)		 17.1
(62.8)		 22.5
(72.5)		 26.7
(80.1)		 30.0
(86)		 31.4
(88.5)		 31.6
(88.9)		 28.9
(84)		 24.1
(75.4)		 17.8
(64)		 12.3
(54.1)		 22.2
(72)
Average low °C (°F) 4.2
(39.6)		 6.0
(42.8)		 9.6
(49.3)		 14.4
(57.9)		 18.7
(65.7)		 21.7
(71.1)		 23.6
(74.5)		 23.8
(74.8)		 21.0
(69.8)		 16.6
(61.9)		 10.8
(51.4)		 5.7
(42.3)		 14.7
(58.5)
Record low °C (°F) −15.0
(5)		 −3.4
(25.9)		 0.8
(33.4)		 3.0
(37.4)		 10.8
(51.4)		 14.0
(57.2)		 18.6
(65.5)		 18.4
(65.1)		 14.4
(57.9)		 8.4
(47.1)		 1.4
(34.5)		 −3.0
(26.6)		 −4.0
(24.8)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 6.2
(0.244)		 1.3
(0.051)		 3.8
(0.15)		 1.9
(0.075)		 2.0
(0.079)		 0.3
(0.012)		 0.1
(0.004)		 0.8
(0.031)		 0.1
(0.004)		 5.0
(0.197)		 3.4
(0.134)		 5.0
(0.197)		 29.9
(1.177)
Source: "Jeddah Regional Climate Center South West Asia". [6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Mackey, Sandra. The Saudis: Inside the Desert Kingdom. Updated Edition. Norton Paperback. W.W. Norton and Company, New York. 2002 (first edition: 1987). ISBN 0-393-32417-6 pbk. p.234.
  2. ↑ Quran 15:78–79
  3. ↑ Quran 26:176–189
  4. ↑ Quran 38:13–15
  5. ↑ Quran 50:12–14
  6. ↑ "Surface annual climatological report". PME.
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