The Eastern Influence route

One day in the Eastern Province

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The Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia holds historical, economic and cultural heft and offers visitors the chance to experience this progressive and ever-adapting region. Dammam, its anchor city, is home to cultural landmarks and the kingdom’s oil and gas industry.

King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture

The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, also known as Ithra, is a breathtaking all-purpose cultural destination covering the arts, science, literature and innovation. A day spent here allows you to linger in the library, which holds over 220,000 books, a theatre space, cinema, museums, galleries, an Idea Lab and spaces for workshops.

Dammam Heritage Village

Spend time at Dammam’s Heritage Village and immerse yourself into daily Saudi life. The five-story building includes a museum, shop and restaurant along with galleries depicting life in the various regions of the kingdom through the ages.

Al Marjan Island

When the weather is just right, nothing beats a relaxing day spent by the seaside and Al Marjan Island is just the spot. A man-made archipelago consisting of four coral-shaped islands outside the bustle of the city, come here for a day at the beach, a picnic, a stroll or bring your fishing gear and try your luck. With hotel resorts and plenty of beaches to choose from, dial down and enjoy a slower pace.

Qaisariyat Al Rashid

For Al Khobar’s answer to the local souq, look no further than Qaisariyat Al Rashid. Taking inspiration from the past, this market is modeled and designed after the traditional souqs of the region, and with over 80 shops, you can pick up treasures both old and new.

Al Jowharah Museum

It is said that people make great cities and nowhere is that more evident than at Al Felwa and Al Jowharah Museum in Dammam. This museum houses the private collection of Abdulwahab Al Ghunaim, a local businessman and avid collector of cultural and traditional artefacts. The result is a sprawling collection of more than 500,000 items, including a priceless collection of vintage cars, antiques and various curios. This is modern authenticity at its best – a personal, historical and fascinating peek into a Saudi collector’s ambition.
Energy Exhibit

No visit to the Eastern Province could be complete without a dive into the world of petroleum. At the Energy Exhibit you’ll find a fascinating interactive experience that brings to life how energy is produced. This exhibit is family-friendly and perfect for curious kids keen to explore connections between science, technology, engineering and maths with a variety of activities and experiments.