Thanks to urban sprawl, Dhahran is now part of a metropolitan area that includes the cities of Dammam (the capital of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, located to the east of Dhahran along the shores of the Persian Gulf) and Al Khobar (located to the southeast of Dhahran).

This tri-city metro area has a population of about two million, making it the third-largest city in Saudi Arabia, behind the capital, Riyadh (population approximately five million), and the Red Sea coastal city of Jeddah (population approximately three million).

Dammam is also linked by the 25-km (16-mile) King Fahad Causeway to the island country of Bahrain.

The Eastern Province is rich in oil, and, because Dhahran was the site of the first major Aramco oil strikes, its name is better known than both of its neighbors. 

Like Saudi Arabia's other large cities, the metro area contains major hotel chains, large malls, and a wide range of restaurants – including familiar American fast-food chains. And it's an easy drive from Dhahran to popular destinations like the Dammam Corniche, which like the perhaps more familiar Jeddah Corniche, features beach area, green spaces, marinas, art installations, playgrounds and amusement parks, restaurants, and more. And yes, there are dive sites along the Persian Gulf!

Also See:

• Dammam Municipal Region site (Arabic)
• Dammam Weather
• King Fahd International Airport
• International Schools article