Hofuf
{{Short description|A city in the Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name = Al Hofuf
| native_name = {{lang|ar|ٱلْهُفُوف}}
| image_skyline = Qasr Sahoud (4185899050).jpg
| image_caption = Sahood Fort in Hofuf
| pushpin_map = Saudi Arabia
| map_caption = Location in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| image_flag =
| flag_link =
| flag_size =
| image_shield =
| shield_link =
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| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = 25px Saudi Arabia
| subdivision_type1 = Province
| subdivision_name1 = Eastern
| subdivision_type2 =
| subdivision_name2 =
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = Saud bin Talal
| leader_title1 = Provincial governor
| leader_name1 = Saud bin Nayef Al Saud
| leader_title2 =
| leader_name2 =
| established_title = Established
| established_date =
| established_title2 = Joined Saudi Arabia 1913
| established_date2 =
| established_title3 =
| established_date3 =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_magnitude =
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| area_metro_km2 =
| area_urban_km2 =
| elevation_m = 154
| area_footnotes =
| population_as_of = 2022
| population_total = 729,606
| population_density_km2 =
| population_density_sq_mi =
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| population_footnotes =
| utc_offset = +3
| utc_offset_DST = +3
| postal_code_type = Postal Code
| postal_code = (5 digits)
| area_code = +966-13
| website = [http://www.hofuf.gov.sa www.Hofuf.gov.sa]{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
| coordinates = {{coord|25|23|N|49|35|E|region:SA|display=inline}}
}}
Al-Hofuf ({{langx|ar|ٱلْهُفُوف}} {{transl|ar|DIN|al-Hufūf}}, also spelled Hofuf or Hufuf, also known as "Al-Hasa", "Al-Ahsa" or "Al-Hassa"){{cite web |title=Al-Hofuf Travel Information and Travel Guide – Saudi Arabia |url=http://www.lonelyplanet.com/saudi-arabia/eastern-province/al-hofuf |publisher=Lonely Planet |access-date=2 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120701214326/http://www.lonelyplanet.com/saudi-arabia/eastern-province/al-hofuf |archive-date=July 1, 2012 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all}} is the major urban city in the Al-Ahsa Governorate in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, with a population of 729,606 (as of 2022). It is known for being one of the largest date producing areas in the world, and for its old markets and palaces.
Overview
The city proper has a population of 150,000 and is part of a larger populated oasis area of towns and villages, with a total population of around 600,000. It is located inland from the Persian Gulf, southwest of Abqaiq and the Dhahran–Dammam–Al-Khobar metropolitan area on the road south to Haradh. It is the closest city to the famous Ghawar oil field, one of the world's largest conventional (land-based) fields.
Legend places Hofuf as the burial place of Laila and Majnoon, the star-crossed pair of the most popular love story in the Arab and Muslim world. The Queen of Sheba is also fabled to have visited this city from her kingdom in South Arabia.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}} German explorer Hermann Burchardt photographed the city in 1904.Today, photos of [http://www.smb-digital.de/eMuseumPlus?service=ExternalInterface&module=collection&objectId=626129&bt=europeanaapi Hofuf] made by the photographer are held in the Ethnological Museum of Berlin; [http://www.smb-digital.de/eMuseumPlus?service=ExternalInterface&module=collection&objectId=625796&bt=europeanaapi Hofuf] (click on photo to enlarge); [http://www.smb-digital.de/eMuseumPlus?service=ExternalInterface&module=collection&objectId=626428&bt=europeanaapi Hofuf in 1904].
History
Hofuf was the headquarters of the Ottoman administration since 1871 when it was captured by the Ottoman Empire. It remained under Ottoman control until 1913, when it was captured by members of the Wahhabi movement, under Ibn Saud. In 1932, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was founded and Hofuf has been among the kingdom's cities since.{{Cite web |title=Al-Hufūf {{!}} Oasis City, Eastern Province, Oasis Region {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Al-Hufuf |access-date=2025-02-23 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}
Economy
Historically, Hofuf made textiles out of wool, silk, and cotton. The town was also renowned for its fruit of the date palm, the Arabs considering the khalasi variety of dates, locally grown in Hofuf, and also the fardh variety of Oman, among the best.Western Arabia and the Red Sea, Naval Intelligence Division, London 2005, p. 488 {{ISBN|0-7103-1034-X}} As of 1920, the city was known for making coffee pots from silver and brass.{{cite book|last=Prothero|first=G.W.|title=Arabia|year=1920|publisher=H.M. Stationery Office|location=London|page=99|url=http://www.wdl.org/en/item/11767/view/1/99/}}
Climate
Al Hofuf has a hot desert climate (Köppen climate classification BWh) with long, very hot summers and mild, short winters.
{{Weather box
| metric first = Y
| single line = Y
| location = Al Ahsa (1991–2020)
| Jan record high C = 32.7
| Feb record high C = 37.8
| Mar record high C = 41.8
| Apr record high C = 45.0
| May record high C = 49.0
| Jun record high C = 50.6
| Jul record high C = 50.8
| Aug record high C = 50.8
| Sep record high C = 48.9
| Oct record high C = 46.0
| Nov record high C = 38.1
| Dec record high C = 33.0
|year record high C = 50.8
| Jan high C = 22.0
| Feb high C = 24.8
| Mar high C = 29.6
| Apr high C = 35.7
| May high C = 41.8
| Jun high C = 45.0
| Jul high C = 46.1
| Aug high C = 45.9
| Sep high C = 42.8
| Oct high C = 37.7
| Nov high C = 29.4
| Dec high C = 23.8
|year high C = 35.4
| Jan mean C = 15.0
| Feb mean C = 17.4
| Mar mean C = 21.8
| Apr mean C = 27.5
| May mean C = 33.4
| Jun mean C = 36.6
| Jul mean C = 37.9
| Aug mean C = 37.3
| Sep mean C = 34.0
| Oct mean C = 29.1
| Nov mean C = 22.0
| Dec mean C = 16.7
|year mean C = 27.4
| Jan low C = 9.0
| Feb low C = 10.9
| Mar low C = 14.7
| Apr low C = 20.0
| May low C = 25.2
| Jun low C = 28.1
| Jul low C = 29.8
| Aug low C = 29.2
| Sep low C = 25.8
| Oct low C = 21.2
| Nov low C = 15.5
| Dec low C = 10.8
|year low C = 20.0
| Jan record low C = -2.3
| Feb record low C = 1.0
| Mar record low C = 0.7
| Apr record low C = 7.3
| May record low C = 17.0
| Jun record low C = 18.3
| Jul record low C = 19.8
| Aug record low C = 19.7
| Sep record low C = 17.3
| Oct record low C = 13.0
| Nov record low C = 5.8
| Dec record low C = 0.8
|year record low C = -2.3
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 13.1
| Feb precipitation mm = 11.4
| Mar precipitation mm = 14.4
| Apr precipitation mm = 12.5
| May precipitation mm = 3.1
| Jun precipitation mm = 0.0
| Jul precipitation mm = 0.1
| Aug precipitation mm = 0.7
| Sep precipitation mm = 0.0
| Oct precipitation mm = 1.3
| Nov precipitation mm = 13.6
| Dec precipitation mm = 18.7
|year precipitation mm = 88.8
| unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 2.0
| Feb precipitation days = 1.7
| Mar precipitation days = 2.4
| Apr precipitation days = 2.0
| May precipitation days = 0.4
| Jun precipitation days = 0.0
| Jul precipitation days = 0.1
| Aug precipitation days = 0.1
| Sep precipitation days = 0.0
| Oct precipitation days = 0.1
| Nov precipitation days = 1.5
| Dec precipitation days = 1.7
| Jan humidity = 55
| Feb humidity = 49
| Mar humidity = 44
| Apr humidity = 38
| May humidity = 27
| Jun humidity = 22
| Jul humidity = 23
| Aug humidity = 30
| Sep humidity = 33
| Oct humidity = 39
| Nov humidity = 47
| Dec humidity = 56
|year humidity = 39
|source 1 =World Meteorological Organization,{{cite web
| url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-2-WMO-Normals-9120/SaudiArabia/CSV/Al-Ahsa_40420.csv
| title = World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991–2020
| publisher = World Meteorological Organization
| access-date = 2 August 2023}} Jeddah Regional Climate Center
{{cite web
|url = http://jrcc.sa/reports_files/1985_2010Reports/Ahsa.RTF
|title = Climate Data for Saudi Arabia
|publisher = Jeddah Regional Climate Center
|access-date = December 7, 2015
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120512182611/http://jrcc.sa/reports_files/1985_2010Reports/Ahsa.RTF
|archive-date = May 12, 2012
|df = mdy-all
}}
|date =December 2015
}}
== Education ==
The faculties of agriculture, veterinary medicine and animal resources for King Faisal University are located in the city (the others being in Dammam). The Hofuf campus also has facilities where Saudi women can study medicine, dentistry and home economics.
Transportation
= Airport =
The city is mainly served by King Fahd International Airport which is 160 km away in Dammam. Hofuf is also home to a small airport of its own, Al-Ahsa International Airport, which mainly offers domestic flights and flights to Dubai. During Operation Desert Shield and the Gulf War in 1991, Al-Ahsa Airport also served as an air base for the French Air Force.
= Railway =
The city has a railway station connecting the city with the capital Riyadh to the west and Dammam to the north. All railways in Saudi Arabia are operated by Saudi Arabia Railways.
{{Collapsible list
| expand =
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| title = Services at Hofuf station
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| 1 = {{anchor|station}}
{{adjacent stations|system=Saudi Arabia Railways
|line=Dammam–Riyadh|left=Abqaiq|right=Riyadh}}
}}
Notable people
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.the-saudi.net/saudi-arabia/alhasa/Al%20Hofuf%20City%20-%20Saudi%20Arabia.htm Hofuf] on www.The-Saudi.net
- [http://www.splendidarabia.com/destinations/eastern-province/jabal-qarah/ Jabal Qarah] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190913215840/http://www.splendidarabia.com/destinations/eastern-province/jabal-qarah/ |date=September 13, 2019 }}, Splendid Arabia: A travel site with photos and routes
{{Saudi cities}}
{{Authority control}}