Eastern Province, Administrative division in Saudi Arabia
This administrative region sits along the Persian Gulf coast, stretching from the Kuwaiti border in the north down to the sand dunes of the Rub al-Khali in the south. It includes desert landscapes, coastal cities and oases with palm groves.
Archaeologists have uncovered settlements here from the Dilmun period that linked trade routes with Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley. Later the region became part of several Islamic caliphates before being integrated into the modern Saudi administrative system in the 20th century.
Pearl diving, pottery and date farming are practiced here for generations and shape the daily life of many coastal communities. Traditional souqs sell local crafts and spices, inviting visitors into a trading culture that goes back centuries.
Travelers can reach the region through airports in Dammam, al-Ahsa and Qaisumah, with Dammam serving as the main gateway. Road connections lead to all major cities in the kingdom and to Bahrain via the King Fahd Causeway.
The al-Ahsa oasis within the region is considered one of the largest natural palm oases in the world, irrigating millions of date palms from underground springs. Visitors can walk through shaded gardens crisscrossed by old irrigation channels.
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