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al-Hasa Oasis
Arabic:
'al-'ahsā'
Other spellings:
al-Ahsa, Hassa
Oasis and region in northeastern Saudi Arabia, the region named after the oasis. Both the region and the oasis are administered as part of the Eastern Province.
The oasis lies 65 km from the Persian Gulf and is the largest in the country and one of the largest in the world, with an area of about 120 km² and a population of 600,000 (2003 estimate). It is bounded by the ad-Dahna and ad-Daman deserts.
The central economic activity of the oasis is agriculture, fed by more than 60 artesian wells. Around 3 million date palms produce a variety of date. Additional products are rice, corn, citrus and other fruits. There is also intensive raising of sheep, goats, cattle and camels. Egg farms add to the variety, making al-Hasa one of the major Saudi food producers. Wind carrying sand is a great problem for the oasis, but in modern times the government has planted protective tree barriers.
Al-Hasa also has some industries producing cement and plastics, in addition to more traditional small-scale industries.
More than 50% of the population of the oasis are Twelver Shi'i Muslims. Hofuf (320,000, 2005 estimate) is the only city here, embracing the southwestern part of the oasis. There are around 50 traditional Arabian villages spread around the oasis.
AL-HASA REGION
The al-Hasa region is named after the oasis, which rests in its centre. The region stretches north to Kuwait, out to the Persian Gulf, ending in the south with the Rub al-Khali, the Empty Quarter, and the ad-Dahna desert in the west. The region has an estimated 3.4 million inhabitants, which represent more than 95% of the total population of the Eastern Province.
Oil production and agriculture are the two main economic activities of the al-Hasa region. Al-Hasa is the home of some of the richest oil fields in the world.
The region is dominated by rocky desert, while there is a wide belt of sandy desert along the coast.
The main cities of al-Hasa region are Dammam (690,000), Hofuf (320,000) and Mubarraz (310,000). Mubarraz lies north of al-Hasa Oasis, while Dammam, out on the coast, is a new, modern urban area thriving from the oil industry.
The region has an excellent infrastructure, with highways connecting the main urban centres, and a railway between the cities and the country's capital Riyadh.
A small percentage of the population are still nomads, although they belong to specific urban centres.
HISTORY
The al-Hasa Oasis has been inhabited since prehistoric times, due to its abundance of water.
899: Al-Hasa comes under control of the Qarmatian leader, al-Jannabi, and is declared independent from the Abbasids of Baghdad. The capital is al-Mu'miniya (near modern Hofuf).
1077: The Qarmatian state of al-Hasa is overthrown, while the Qarmantians retain control of Bahrain.
Late 18th century: Conquered by Wahhabi troops.
1818: Comes under Ottoman control.
1913: Ibn Saud conquers al-Hasa Oasis, annexing it into his principality of Najd.
1930's: Huge petroleum deposits are discovered near Dammam, resulting in rapid modernization for the region.
Early 1960's: The oil fields in al-Hasa reach the production level of 1 million barrels per day.
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By: Tore Kjeilen
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