Hafar Al-Batin
Encyclopedia
Hafar Al-Batin is a Saudi Arabia
n city in the Eastern Province and located in the Northeastern region. It is located 480 km the north of Riyadh
, 90 km from Kuwait
border and about 70 from the Iraq
border. The city lies in the dry valley of the Wadi al-Batin, part of the larger valley of the long, now-dry river Wadi Al-Rummah
, which leads inland toward Medina
and formerly emptied into the Persian Gulf
.
in 638 CE
, Hafar Al-Batin was just a route in the desert that pilgrims
passed through from Mecca
for Hajj
. At that time , there was no water available in this land, the pilgrims travelled from Iraq
to Mecca on a long route without water.
During Uthman ibn Affan's reign (644 CE
- 656 CE
), complaints of pilgrims reached Abu-Musa al-Asha'ari
, a companion of the Islamic prophet Muhammad
, who answered by digging for new wells along this route in the Al-Batin valley. The name of Hafar Al-Batin is derived from this which means "the hole of Al-Batin Valley". During the 1991 Gulf War
Hafar Al-Batin was targeted by a barrage of Iraqi Al Hussein
missiles on February 14, 1991. At least two missiles hit the town. An automobile workshop, two houses and five cars were destroyed. Four civilians were injured.
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 about 10 km in the east, and King Khalid Military City Airport
about 60 km in the south.
nights to (40 C to 49 C) during summer
days. The climate in general is hot and dry, and rains only during winter months.
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
n city in the Eastern Province and located in the Northeastern region. It is located 480 km the north of Riyadh
Riyadh
Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of Riyadh Province, and belongs to the historical regions of Najd and Al-Yamama. It is situated in the center of the Arabian Peninsula on a large plateau, and is home to 5,254,560 people, and the urban center of a...
, 90 km from Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
border and about 70 from the Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
border. The city lies in the dry valley of the Wadi al-Batin, part of the larger valley of the long, now-dry river Wadi Al-Rummah
Wadi Al-Rummah
Wadi Al-Rummah or ar-Rummah is one of the Arabian Peninsula's longest river valleys, at a length of almost . Now mostly dry and partly blocked by encroaching sand dunes, the wadi arises near Medina at Al-Abyad Mountain...
, which leads inland toward Medina
Medina
Medina , or ; also transliterated as Madinah, or madinat al-nabi "the city of the prophet") is a city in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia, and serves as the capital of the Al Madinah Province. It is the second holiest city in Islam, and the burial place of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad, and...
and formerly emptied into the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
.
History
In the 1st century after hijrahIslamic calendar
The Hijri calendar , also known as the Muslim calendar or Islamic calendar , is a lunar calendar consisting of 12 lunar months in a year of 354 or 355 days. It is used to date events in many Muslim countries , and used by Muslims everywhere to determine the proper day on which to celebrate Islamic...
in 638 CE
638
Year 638 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 638 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Asia :* The Muslims capture Jerusalem and Akko.* In...
, Hafar Al-Batin was just a route in the desert that pilgrims
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
passed through from Mecca
Mecca
Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...
for Hajj
Hajj
The Hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is one of the largest pilgrimages in the world, and is the fifth pillar of Islam, a religious duty that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so...
. At that time , there was no water available in this land, the pilgrims travelled from Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
to Mecca on a long route without water.
During Uthman ibn Affan's reign (644 CE
644
Year 644 was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 644 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Asia :* The Tang dynasty of China begins the invasion...
- 656 CE
656
Year 656 was a leap year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 656 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Asia :* The Battle of Bassorah between Ali and Aisha,...
), complaints of pilgrims reached Abu-Musa al-Asha'ari
Abu-Musa al-Asha'ari
Abu-Musa Abd-Allah ibn Qays al-Ash'ari, better known as Abu Musa al-Ashari was a companion of the prophet Muhammad and important figure in early Islamic history...
, a companion of the Islamic prophet Muhammad
Sahabah
In Islam, the ' were the companions, disciples, scribes and family of the Islamic prophet...
, who answered by digging for new wells along this route in the Al-Batin valley. The name of Hafar Al-Batin is derived from this which means "the hole of Al-Batin Valley". During the 1991 Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
Hafar Al-Batin was targeted by a barrage of Iraqi Al Hussein
Al Hussein (missile)
Al Hussein or al-Husayn is the designation of an Iraqi ballistic missile. The missile was the result of upgrading the Soviet made Scud in order to achieve a longer range...
missiles on February 14, 1991. At least two missiles hit the town. An automobile workshop, two houses and five cars were destroyed. Four civilians were injured.
Population
In 2010, Hafar Al-Batin, had more than 35 villages in its suburban area and the population reached 389,993.- Hafar Al-Batin about +271,642 28°26′3"N 45°57′49"E
- Qaisumah about +22,538 28°18′32"N 46°08′00"E
- Al-Theebiyah about +14,442 28°07′30"N 45°40′03"E
- Ar Raqa'i +5,665 29°01′00"N 46°33′00"E
- As Su'ayerah about +3,607
- As Sufayri about +2,481 28°31′25"N 45°48′09"E
- Al-Qalt - Ibn Tuwalah about +1,128 28°37′48"N 45°19′48"E
- Samoudah about +914
- As Sadawi about +822
- Um Qulaib about +612 27°49′50"N 45°58′55"E
- An Nazim about +585 28°39′00"N 45°13′12"E
- Dhabhah about +267
- Um Ashar about +73 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
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
with Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
in the East and connecting the North with the Eastern Province.
Hafar Al-Batin has two airports, Qaisumah
Qaisumah Domestic Airport
Qaisumah Domestic Airport is an airport in Qaisumah, Hafar Al-Batin, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. Its official name is Hafar Al-Batin Domestic Airport....
airport about 10 km in the east, and King Khalid Military City Airport
Hafar Al-Batin Domestic Airport
Hafar Al-Batin Domestic Airport is an airport in King Khalid Military City, Saudi Arabia. It is located 60 km south to Hafar Al-Batin and is of limited number of civilian flights from the airport.-References:**Notes:...
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
The weather in Hafar Al-Batin ranges from (-3 C to 5 C) in winterWinter
Winter is the coldest season of the year in temperate climates, between autumn and spring. At the winter solstice, the days are shortest and the nights are longest, with days lengthening as the season progresses after the solstice.-Meteorology:...
nights to (40 C to 49 C) during summer
Summer
Summer is the warmest of the four temperate seasons, between spring and autumn. At the summer solstice, the days are longest and the nights are shortest, with day-length decreasing as the season progresses after the solstice...
days. The climate in general is hot and dry, and rains only during winter months.
External links
- DammamDammamDammam is the capital of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, the most oil-rich region in the world. The judicial and administrative bodies of the province and several government departments are located in the city. Dammam is the largest city in the Eastern Province and third largest in Saudi...
- Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia
- Al-Batin ClubAl-Batin (football club)Al-Batin is a Saudi Arabian football team based in Hafar Al-Batin that is currently playing in the Saudi first Division League.- External links :* * * Hafar Al-Batin...