Hafar Al-Batin, Trading city in Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia.
Hafar Al-Batin is a city in northeastern Saudi Arabia, spreading across a flat desert plain between the borders of Kuwait and Iraq. The city sits roughly 480 kilometers (298 miles) north of Riyadh and features wide streets and modern residential districts arranged around several central areas.
The settlement began along a pilgrim route to Mecca, where wells were dug in the 7th century under the order of Abu-Musa al-Asha'ari. These water sources gradually attracted traders and travelers until a permanent city formed around them.
The population includes various Arab clans such as Suhail, Anizah, and Shammar, each maintaining their traditional practices while embracing contemporary Saudi lifestyles.
The city connects through paved main roads to Kuwait and northern provinces, making travel to the region straightforward. Because of extreme temperature swings between hot summer days and cold winter nights, pack clothing for both conditions.
Temperatures can reach up to 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) on summer days while dropping to minus 2 degrees Celsius (28 degrees Fahrenheit) on winter nights. This range of more than 50 degrees is among the widest temperature swings in the country.
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