Khobar

Introduction

Al Khobar is a city and governorate in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province, set on the coast of the Persian Gulf. It forms part of the Dammam metropolitan area alongside Dammam and Dhahran, and serves as the residential core of the country's Gulf region.

Before you go

Khobar is the newest of the Dammam-Dhahran-Khobar trio, and it is generally considered the most pleasant of the three. Its seaside location and beachside Corniche are the main reasons, and it is also the most organised of the group, with the best pedestrian-friendly walkways.

Women face fewer restrictions here than in other eastern cities, including when it comes to wearing a hijab. Plan your days around the waterfront and on foot, since the city's layout makes walking a practical way to get around.

Getting there

Most travellers reach Khobar by air, flying into Dammam's airport, which handles flights from cities such as Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Dubai, Doha, Cairo and Istanbul. Many visitors instead fly into Bahrain and drive across the King Fahd Causeway. Manama's airport is one of the best connected in the region, and some Western travellers find it the more pleasant option; companies often book business flights there rather than to Dammam, partly because Bahrain International Airport has bars and lounges where drinks are served — a comfortable way for foreigners to spend their last hours before entering a country where alcohol is illegal. Flights out of Dammam frequently require a connection in Riyadh or Jeddah.

By rail, Dammam's train station is about 15 minutes away by taxi. Long-distance buses also serve the area: the Saudi-Bahraini Transport Company (SABTCO) runs five buses daily to Bahrain, with its office in the centre of the city — any taxi driver can point you to it. The nearest main bus station is in Dammam, though SAPTCO offers direct VIP services from Riyadh to Khobar.

Getting around

Khobar is vast and sprawling, and that shapes how you move through it. There is no metro, tram or subway, so plan on road-based transport for most trips rather than expecting to cover the city on foot. Walking works well in specific areas — the Corniche, a long stretch of parks and waterfront lined with restaurants, coffee shops and boutiques, is pleasant to explore on foot — but for getting between districts you really need a vehicle. Many expatriates choose to own a car for exactly this reason: fuel and maintenance costs are relatively low, though traffic is heavy at peak hours and parking can be a challenge in some areas. If you do drive, be aware that lanes do not mean all that much here.

• Taxis: Widely available and can be hailed on the street or booked through your hotel or a restaurant. They are metered, though drivers often negotiate flat fares, especially for longer journeys, and they are generally affordable. Near town you can catch a cab almost anywhere, and at a hotel or compound you will usually get one within a few minutes of calling. Away from the town centre, taxis are quite limited. Women can use taxis; sitting in the back seat is recommended.
• Ride-hailing: Uber and Careem both operate in Khobar. Fares are displayed upfront in the app, drivers are vetted by the companies, and cars are usually newer and cleaner than traditional taxis. Costs can be higher than a taxi, but ride-hailing is considered safe for women and children. It helps to have an app as a backup outside the centre.
• Buses: SAPTCO operates public buses covering most areas of the city. They are modern and air-conditioned, but can be crowded at peak hours and frequency is low on some routes. Fares are inexpensive and paid per single journey. The network is generally considered safe, but it is less commonly used by women and children, so some visitors may prefer other options. For intercity travel, the nearest main bus station is in Dammam, though SAPTCO also offers direct VIP services from Riyadh to Khobar. SABTCO runs daily buses to Bahrain, with its office in the centre of the city.

Khobar is closely tied to its neighbours. Dammam is about 20–25 km away, or 20–30 minutes by car, along one of the region's busiest commuter routes. The nearest railway station is Dammam railway station, roughly 15 minutes away by taxi, with connections via the Dammam–Riyadh line to Abqaiq, Hofuf and Riyadh. The King Fahd Causeway links the Khobar area to Bahrain, and major highways connect onward to Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Traffic across the region peaks in the morning and again in the late afternoon and early evening; if you are heading to the airport or crossing to Bahrain, build in extra time around those windows and around weekend afternoons, when the causeway is at its busiest.

Where to stay

Where you sleep in Al Khobar depends on whether you want resort-style leisure or long-stay convenience. On the northern outskirts of town, off Old Airport Road, you'll find a pleasant low-rise hotel with comfortable rooms, a pool and a poolside cafe serving food and shisha. In the Al Rawabi District, along King Faisal Bin Abdulaziz Road, a Park Inn by Radisson offers another straightforward option.

• Oasis Tower Hotel — five-star rooms with separate kitchens, plus restaurants, a bowling alley, a free video game arcade, an ice skating rink, a fitness center and an onsite grocery store. Expect heavy security: K9 units, car inspections, ID checks, mirrors underneath cars, two gates cars must pass through, and camera identification to enter the building.
• Ascott Corniche Al Khobar — luxury serviced apartments on Prince Turkey Street in Al Yarmouk, ranging from studios to three-bedroom penthouses, with access to a health club, residence lounge, shisha lounge and cafes.

Food & drink

For a quick, inexpensive meal, local fast-food vendors such as Baba Habbas serve hamburgers, fries and drinks that will feel familiar if you have eaten in other parts of the world. The most traditional dish to seek out is Chicken Shawaya with Rice — chicken and rice, a combination you will recognise from many cuisines. Pork is prohibited in Saudi Arabia, so do not ask for it; instead, stick to chicken, beef, seafood (Khobar sits near the seaside) and vegetarian food.

• Baba Habbas — cheap hamburgers, fries and drinks
• Chicken Shawaya with Rice — the traditional local meal
• Seafood — a good choice given the city's coastal setting

Alcohol is illegal, as it is throughout the kingdom. Instead, look for the many cafeterias in the city serving a tasty tea that locals call "shay", sometimes prepared with milk or mint. Coffee and breakfast chains such as Starbucks, Dunkin' Donuts and IHOP are found around the city, usually in the malls and along the Corniche.

What to see and do

South of town, the coast along the Arabian Gulf and Half-Moon Bay is where most of Khobar's outdoor activity happens. You can rent an ATV and run along the beach or up and down the sand dunes; the rental outfits are usually run by locals who don't speak English, so an Arabic-speaking companion helps, though a visitor with basic cross-cultural communication skills can normally reach an agreement. The beaches themselves are numerous, many with shaded sitting areas, trash cans and showers. Closer to town most are family only, while roughly 40 km south you'll find several open to singles, and camping and campfires are permitted or at least tolerated. The water is shallow and warm with little tide or wave action, and the sand is generally decent, the beaches large enough to escape the crowds and relatively clean.

In town, the Rashid Mall and Mall of Dhahran are the two biggest shopping centres, comparable to those in Western countries, with familiar stores, large food halls mixing well-known outlets with Middle Eastern versions and specialists, and amusement parks for families. Central Khobar, with its traffic and crowded streets, can feel intimidating if you're unfamiliar with the Middle East, but the downtown area near the waterfront is highly developed and gentrified, full of name-brand and Western eateries, coffee shops and retailers, and restaurant workers there cater specially to Westerners. It's a bustling area with excellent local food and good buys on merchandise, though quality varies. For something different, Golf World in the Olaya area has screen golf rooms and a billiard table, and Prince Saud bin Jalawi Sports City stadium is the home ground of Al Qadsiah FC.

When to go

Khobar has a desert climate, so plan around heat rather than rain. Summer stretches across roughly five months and is very hot and dry, with June the warmest month and daytime temperatures commonly climbing from the high 30s into the low 50s Celsius. Nights stay warm, and the urban heat island effect makes the city feel hotter still; large temperature swings are rare during these months. If you visit in summer, expect to organise your days around the heat.

Winter is the most comfortable stretch: mild to warm and dry, with January the coldest month. Days are pleasant and nights cool, and this is also the wettest part of the year, with light rain, frequent heavy spells and thunderstorms, and occasional small episodes of hail. Spring and autumn are quick transitional seasons — October eases you out of the extreme summer heat, while April marks the shift back toward it — and both bring dry conditions with light rain and thunderstorms. The change between seasons happens rather quickly, so time your trip for the milder months if you want to be outdoors.

Three days in Khobar

Day one: Start in Al Khobar itself, in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province, and get your bearings along the Corniche on the Persian Gulf. The waterfront is the natural first stop, and walking it gives you a feel for how the city meets the Gulf. From there you can look across the water toward Bahrain, and if you want to continue, the King Fahd Causeway links Khobar's wider area to Manama.

Day two: Use Khobar as a base for the wider Eastern Province. Dammam and Dhahran are both close by, so you can move between them without much trouble. If you are arriving by air, Bahrain International Airport is an option for reaching the area, and flights also connect through Riyadh, Jeddah, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Dubai, Doha, Cairo and Istanbul. For transport, SAPTCO and the Bahraini Transport Company (SABTCO) run services, and VIP coaches are available if you prefer more comfort.

Day three: Plan a slower day. Many visitors use Khobar as a stop before crossing to Bahrain, so if that is your route, the causeway to Manama is straightforward. Women travelling in Saudi Arabia should plan ahead for how they will get around, since walking is not always practical and long distances between points are common. If you are heading onward, flights from the region's airports give you plenty of options.