Khobar

Khobar has a desert climate (BWh), like the majority of the Saudi Arabian desert under the Köppen climate classification; with very hot, dry summers and mild to warm, dry winters. Light rain with frequent heavy spells and thunderstorms is common during winters and spring; with small episodes of hail taking place during the winters. Much like Dammam, Khobar also experiences the urban heat island effect.

The average annual temperature is 33 °C (91 °F) during the day and 22 °C (72 °F) at night. January is the coldest month with temperatures ranging from 12 to 22 °C (54 to 72 °F) during the day to 3 to 18 °C (37 to 64 °F) at night. In the warmest month, June, the typical temperature ranges from 36 to 50 °C (97 to 122 °F) during the day to about 33 °C (91 °F) at night. Generally, summer lasts about six months, from May to October. Two months, April and November, are transitional, but the transition between seasons is rather quick. Large fluctuations in temperature are rare, particularly in the summer months.

Khobar is served by the largest airport in the world in terms of surface area: King Fahd International Airport. The airport plot is about 77,600 hectares (776 square kilometers) in area, which is slightly bigger than the country of Bahrain.[5] and it is located 20 km northwest of Dammam. From Khobar, the terminal is approximately 50 km (31 mi) away. Some residents prefer using the Bahrain International Airport too.

King Fahd International Airport

Khobar is connected with the major highways in the region including the Dhahran–Jubail Expressway, Highway 95 and Highway 605 (also known as the Khobar–Dammam Highway) which links Khobar directly to the King Fahd International Airport via the heart of Dammam. Khobar hosts the King Fahd Causeway, which links Saudi Arabia to Bahrain. Khobar is also connected to highways to other Middle-Eastern countries such as Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

While the historic port of Khobar was destroyed, a new port is being constructed south of Khobar's South Corniche and is expected to handle civilian port activities.

The nearest railway station to Khobar is the Dammam railway station, which offers connections via its 449 km Dammam–Riyadh line to Abqaiq, Hofuf and Riyadh.

Khobar's North Corniche

Khobar hosts several government-funded public and private hospitals including AGH Khobar, Mohammad Dossary Hospital (MDH), King Fahd University Hospital (KFUH) and the Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Complex.

Being a residential area, Khobar is famous for its many recreational parks which are decorated with different monuments including Prince Ibn Jalawy Park, Eskan Park and the North & South Corniches which straddle the eastern boundary of the city.

The King Fahd Causeway links the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the island nation of Bahrain.

King Fahd Causeway is a bridge between Saudi Arabia and the Kingdom of Bahrain. The bridge is about 25 kilometers long and 23.2 meters wide. The bridge was officially opened on 25 November 1986 and is named after King Fahd. This bridge has achieved many economic and social benefits for both countries. The two countries - Saudi Arabia and Bahrain - as well as the GCC countries.[6] The bridge can accommodate 28,000 cars and 1000 trucks.[7]

The Khobar Water Tower, located on the Khobar Sea Front, is a major tourist attraction with fireworks shows on special occasions such as the beginning of Ramadan and the Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.

Khobar also features the Water Tower which is situated in a man made peninsula in the Khobar waterfront. It is believed that the Khobar Water Tower would be one of the top Eastern Region's tourist attractions.[8] The tower has eight stories at a height of 90 meters, and one of the floors has a restaurant that overlooks the city.[8] The tower hosts fireworks shows on special occasions such as the arrival of Ramadan and the two Eids.

The Prince Sultan Science & Technology Center (also known as SciTech) is a science exhibit located directly in view of the Khobar Water Tower and north of the North Corniche of Khobar. The center has five permanent exhibits, known as Scientific Halls, named Earth & Space, The Living World, Our Beautiful Seas, Wonders of Science, Amazing Technology and the Discovery Oasis. The Discovery Oasis Hall is intended to present science to younger children, with a daycare-like layout. The center also hosts an IMAX cinema which generally only shows movies with a scientific and/or non-fictional background.

The first school in Khobar was established in 1942.

Today, Khobar is home to more than 100 public and private educational institutes. Indian schools affiliated with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) are the most common forms of international schools with countries such as Pakistan and Bangladesh also operating their own schools with their own curricula. Private American and British educational institutes are also present.

King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals and Prince Mohammad bin Fahd University are two universities that are located within or close to Khobar. Students may also go to other universities in the city of Dammam.