Hafar Al-Batin

Infobox City
official_name = City of Hafar Al-Batin
nickname = "The Capital of the Spring"

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flag_link = Flag_of_Saudi_Arabia
flag_size = 80px
image_shield = Coat of arms of Saudi Arabia.svg
shield_link = Coat of arms of Saudi Arabia
shield_size = 40px
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name =
subdivision_type1 = Province
subdivision_name1 = Dammam
subdivision_type2 =
subdivision_name2 =
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Mutlaq Abu Ethnain
leader_title1 = City Governor
leader_name1 =
leader_title2 = Provincial Governor
leader_name2 =
established_title = Established
established_date = 17 AH - 638 AD
established_title2 = Joint Saudi Arabia
established_date2 = 1925
established_title3 =
established_date3 =
area_magnitude =
unit_pref = Metric
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 =
area_total_sq_mi =
area_metro_km2 =
area_urban_km2 =
elevation_m =
area_footnotes =
population_note = Hafar Al-Batin Municipality estimate
population_as_of = 2005
population_total = +338,636
population_density_km2 =
population_density_sq_mi =
population_urban = +289,179
population_metro = +49,457
population_footnotes =
timezone = AST
utc_offset = +3
timezone_DST = AST
utc_offset_DST = +3
postal_code_type = Postal Code
postal_code = 31991
area_code = +966-3-7
latd=28 |latm=26 |lats= |latNS=N
longd=45 |longm=58 |longs= |longEW=E

Hafar Al-Batin is a Saudi Arabian city in the Eastern Province and located in the Northeastern region. It is located at around coord|28|26|3|N|45|57|49|E just north to Riyadh, and located near the longitudinal Coordinate of Riyadh, thus it has almost the same prayer time with Riyadh, +/- 1 minute. It is about 480 km from Riyadh, 90 km from Kuwait border and about 70 from Iraq border. King Khalid Military City is a 60 km south to it.

Name

The name of Hafar Al-Batin ( _ar. حفر الباطن) means the hole of Al-Batin Valley

History

In the 1st century after hijrah in 638 AD, Hafar Al-Batin was just a route in a desert that pilgrims pass through it to Mecca for Hajj. At that time , there is no water available in this land, the pilgrims travelled from Iraq to Mecca in a long route wihout water. During Uthman ibn Affan reign (644 AD - 656 AD), complaints of pilgrims reached Abu-Musa al-Asha'ari a companion of the Islamic prophet Muhammad who was involved to solve the problem by digging for new wells in this route around 17 AH. The wells started from 5 reached 70 wells in the lowest point of Al-Batin valley. The name Abu-Musa al-Asha'ari wells were put. In 1320 AH, the 70 wells decreased to 40 wells only 11 wells were drinkable. The remaining wells were now holes. Thus, the current name is holes in Al-Batin valley to be holes of Al-Batin ( _ar. حفر الباطن)

Population

By 2005, Hafar Al-Batin, its suburbans and more 35 villages reached +338,636.
*Hafar Al-Batin about +289,179 coord|28|26|3|N|45|57|49|E
*Qaisumah about +20,887 coord|28|18|32|N|46|08|00|E
*Al-Theebiyah about +12,338 coord|28|07|30|N|45|40|03|E
*Ar Raqa'i +5,665 coord|29|01|00|N|46|33|00|E
*As Su'ayerah about +3,607
*As Sufayri about +2,481 coord|28|31|25|N|45|48|09|E
*Al-Qalt - Ibn Tuwalah about +1,128 coord|28|37|48|N|45|19|48|E
*Samoudah about +914
*As Sadawi about +822
*Um Qulaib about +612 coord|27|49|50|N|45|58|55|E
*An Nazim about +585 coord|28|39|00|N|45|13|12|E
*Dhabhah about +267
*Um Ashar about +73 coord|27|43|12|N|45|03|36|E
*Al-Metiahah Al-Janobiyah about +61
*Al-Hamatiyat about +17

Communications

All the downtown and roads of Hafar Al-Batin are paved.It is connected with an international network of roads, connecting Saudi Arabia with Kuwait in the East and connecting the North with the Eastern Province.Hafar Al-Batin has two airports, Qaisumah airport codes|AQI|OEPA airport about 10 km in the east, and King Khalid Military City Airport airport codes|HBT|OEKK about 60 km in the south.

Districts

*Abu-Musa al-Asha'ari
*Al-Aziziah A
*Al-Aziziah B
*Al-Khalediyah
*Al-Rabwah
*Al-Muhammadiyah
*Al-Baladiyah
*Al-Rawdhah
*Al-Nayefiyah
*Al-Sulaimaniyah
*Al-Faisaliyah

Climate

Weather in Hafar Al-Batin is ranging from (-3 C to 5 C) at the night of winter to (40 C to 49 C) at the daylight of summer and even more but not documented. The Climate in general is harsh, hot and dry, it is rainy in winter only.

Galleries

References

* [http://www.cdsi.gov.sa/showproductstandard.aspx?lid=25&pid=1585 Central Department of Statistics and Informations] ar icon
* [http://www.saudinf.com/main/a906.htm The Saudi Arabian Information Resource]

External links

* Dammam
* Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia
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