Introduction
Dhahran is a city in eastern Saudi Arabia and its oil capital.
Dhahran lies about 14 kilometers south of Dammam which is the
administrative capital of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia
and the Kingdom’s major commercial port along the Arabian
Gulf. The King Fahad International Airport, nearly 40 kilometers
outside Dammam is one of the main gateways to the Eastern Province.
Ten kilometers to the east of Dhahran lies the commercially bustling
city of Al Khobar, a favorite shopping destination for visitors
to the area. Al Khobar is home to two large shopping malls (Al
Rashid Mall and Dhahran Mall) and hundreds of shops, parks and
restaurants.
Dhahran sits inland from Dammam and Khobar, atop a broad and
flat hill (elevation 146 feet). The hill is the surface _expression
of the Dammam Dome and is where the first oil explorers in Saudi
Arabia struck commercial oil deposits in 1938. In the course
of the discovery of oil, an “oil town” slowly took
form near the apex of the dome. Today Dhahran includes the Saudi
Aramco headquarters, facilities and company housing. Housing
developments and suburbs have sprung up around the Saudi Aramco
facilities mainly triggered by generous company home ownership
programs for its Saudi Arab employees. Dhahran is also home of
the King Fahad University of Petroleum and Minerals, the “MIT
of Saudi Arabia”, a large US Consulate compound and a Royal
Saudi Airbase. A second large university, King Faisal University,
is situated along the coast between Dammam and Al Khobar. Just
north of Dammam is the lush mega oasis of Al Qatif which is home
to several cities, towns and villages. At the end of a spit to
the northeast of Qatif is the Saudi Aramco refinery of Ras Tanura
and another company town.
The Dammam-Dhahran-Khobar tri-city area is linked to the island
nation Kingdom of Bahrain by an impressive 26 kilometer long
causeway.
Accommodation
1. Carlton al Moaibed Hotel (www.carltonalmoaibedhotel.com)
Contact Person: Mr. Mounif Barakat, Sales & Marketing
Executive
For the Symposium conferees, the hotel is offering
the following special rates provided reservations are confirmed
by
April 2nd,
2006:
- Single Room rate of SR375.00 (approx. USD$ 100.00) per night
plus a 15% service charge and including a buffet breakfast.
- Suite rate of SR700.00 (approx. USD$ 187.00) per night plus
a 15% service charge and including a buffet breakfast.
This hotel is a newly-renovated 5 star hotel which is medial
between Dhahran (home of Saudi Aramco, the King Fahd University
of Petroleum and Minerals, and the US Consulate Compound), Dammam
(capital of the Eastern Province) and Al Khobar (shopping capital
of the Eastern Province). The drive from the hotel to the conference
site is a 15-20 minute drive mainly along thruways with few traffic
signals. The shopping city of Al Khobar is only minutes away
in the other direction. Two very large shopping malls, The Rashid
Mall and The Dhahran Mall, are 5-10 minutes away by car. Finally,
the hotel contains mobile phone rental, internet facility, car
rental, translation service, on site computers and printers,
courier service, flower shop and a travel and ticketing service.
The hotel is famous for its thematic restaurants, namely Lebanese,
Mexican and Japanese.
2. Dhahran International Hotel (www.dhahotel.com.sa)
Contact Person: Mr. Sami Aboulezz, General
Manager
For the Symposium conferees, the hotel is offering the following
amenities:
- Single Room rate of SR265.00 (approx. USD$ 71.00) per night
inclusive of service charge and including a buffet breakfast.
- Double Room rate of SR334.00 (approx. USD$ 89.00) per night
inclusive of service charge and including a buffet breakfast.
- Executive Suite rate of SR450.00 (approx. USD$ 120.00) per
night subject to a 15% service charge but including a buffet
breakfast.
- Presidential Suite rate of SR690.00 (approx. USD$ 184.00)
per night subject to a 15% service charge but including a buffet
breakfast.
- Royal Suite rate of SR1700.00 (approx. USD$ 454.00) per
night subject to a 15% service charge but including a buffet
breakfast.
- A free shuttle minibus service to the conference in the morning
after breakfast and a return pick up in the evening.
This hotel is the closest 5 star hotel to the Symposium conference
site. The drive from the hotel to the conference site is entirely
along thruways and does not encounter any traffic signals. It
is a 5-10 minute drive. The shopping city of Al Khobar is only
minutes away in the other direction. Two very large shopping
malls, The Rashid Mall and The Dhahran Mall, are five minutes
away by car.
The Dhahran International Hotel used to service the Eastern
Province's International Airport, before the airport was moved
a few years ago to a large site to the northeast of the city
of Dammam, to become The King Fahad International Airport. The
old commercial airport at Dhahran has now been fully incorporated
into the Dhahran Royal Air Force base.
The hotel is 3 minutes away from the US Consulate compound in
Dhahran and from the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals.
Finally, the hotel contains an office for Saudi Airlines (Saudia),
a barber shop, a pastry shop, a bookshop and a high speed internet
café.
3. Al-Khobar Holiday Inn
Room Rates:
- Single Standard Room - SR. 325 +15% service charge per room
per night
- Single Executive Room - SR. 440 +15% service charge per room
per night
- Junior Suite - SR. 800 +15% service charge per room per night
- Executive Suite - SR. 1000 +15% service charge per room per
night
Special Privileges for guests staying at the Executive Room:
- Complimentary breakfast at the Executive Lounge
- Complimentary airport pickup and drop (upon request)
- Welcome drink upon arrival
- Complimentary evening refreshment
- Free pressing for one Suit or Thobe
- Express check in/out at the Reception
- Early check in and late check out upon availability
4. Al-Khobar Meridian Hotel
Standard Deluxe Room
Single
Aramco Rate: SR.390
Normal Rate: SR.500
Double / Twin
Aramco Rate: SR.505
Normal Rate: SR.650
Royal Club Executive Room
Single
Aramco Rate: SR.505
Normal Rate: SR.650
Double / Twin
Aramco Rate: SR.660
Normal Rate: SR.850
* Royal Club Executive room rates include Breakfast
on the VIP Lounge and other complimentary benefits.
The above rates are subject to 15% s.c.
Transfer Rate
SR.100 per limousine:
From Dammam Airport to Hotel
SR.350 per limousine:
From Bahrain
Meal Rate at the Le Café De Paris Restaurant
Breakfast
Buffet:
SR.65
Lunch Buffet:
SR.100
Dinner Buffet:
SR.110 (Except Seafood Night - Monday SR.115)
The above rates are
subject to 15% s.c. Location
Ideally located in the business district steps away
from the shopping area and 45 minutes from King Fahd International
Airport
in Dammam.
The Hotel
5 Star deluxe – the hotel offers the finest accommodation
and elegant dining. All rooms with a private balcony and sea
view. DSL internet access available in all the rooms and banquet
facilities. Complete Sport and Recreation facilities.
Safety and Security
The hotel is in line with the International Meridien standard.
The hotel is equipped with CCTV system both internally and external
of the building. Controlled and monitored 24 hours at the Security
Office. With anti-shatter film installed on the front lobby windows
and no parking against the front of the building is allowed.
An X-tray machine for scanning all luggage has been installed
at the lobby.
Additional Hotel Information http://www.lemeridien.com/hotels/index.shtml
http://travel.yahoo.com/p-hotel-488137-dhahran_hotels-i
http://www.global-rooms.com/asia/saudi-arabia/hotels/dhahran.html
Shopping Malls
 The
weekend is Thursday and Friday. Business firms and banks are
open on Thursday morning. Almost all banks offer 24-hour ATM
card service. Most shops and companies begin their workday at
9:00 and close around 1:00PM or 2:00PM. They then re-open at
4:00PM or 5:00PM and the shops stay open until 10:00PM or 11:00PM.
All places of business will close five times a day for prayer.
The prayer times change daily and are published in the local
newspaper. During Ramadan, the shops are closed (grocery stores
are open) during the day, open at 9:00 or 10:00PM and close at
1:00 or 2:00AM.
 Here
you will find some items typical of the region, e.g., handicraft
and gold. Also there are items imported from India, Pakistan,
the Far East and Europe. Many items, especially gold, are less
expensive. The souq is where you will find fabrics, clothing,
shoes, spices and household items.
Be sure to ask for a discount in all small retail shops. The
only shops with fixed prices are groceries stores, the European
/ American stores (such as British Home Stores) and some shops
in the large malls. However, no one is offended if you ask for
a discount and sometimes you’ll be surprised.
 The
traditional souqs still expect the customer to haggle over the
price. Don’t be inhibited. Take your time, keep cool, and
enjoy tea if it’s offered. Bargaining is a social event.
Returns and exchanges are not allowed in many stores. Few stores
have dressing rooms for women to try on clothes. If you ask before
you buy it, you may get permission to return it if it does not
fit. Please bear in mind that clothing sizes do vary between
European and US standard sizes.
The following links will direct you to popular
malls in eastern province:
http://www.dhahranshoppingcity.com/
http://www.alrashidmall.com/royal-doulton/index.htm
http://www.abdulla-fouad.com/fouad_center.htm
Weather
Dhahran weather information is available through
this link:
http://weather.msn.com/local.aspx?wealocations=wc:SAXX0021
Photo Gallery
Saudi Aramco’s core area in Dhahran
City
Arial view of Dhahran offices
Aramco Camp in Dhahran
Duck pond near golf course, Dhahran
More photos
http://www.pratt-johnson.com/Aramco/
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