An-Nu'ayriyyah Governorate

An-Nu'ayriyyah Governorate is one of the governorates of the Eastern Province in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, classified as category (B), with twenty-five affiliated administrative centers. It is one of the four governorates considered the least populated in the province after Ras Tanura, Qaryat al-Ulya, and al-Udayd. Only 1.24 percent of the province’s population, numbering about 63,815 people, live there, according to Saudi Census 2022.

An-Nu'ayriyyah Governorate is located 220 km northwest of Dammam City, the capital of the province's emirate. It is situated at a triangle that branches off at an intersection for those coming from Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and Egypt heading towards the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Oman. It is called Bride of the Spring due to its numerous visitors from various parts of the Kingdom and the Gulf countries.

An-Nu'ayriyyah City was established as a hamlet coinciding with the commencement of the construction of the Tapline and the establishment of an oil pumping station on its land. This, coupled with its positioning on the trade route for those coming from the north to the province, contributed to its growth and prosperity, transforming it into a commercial hub serving the residents of the neighboring villages.

An-Nu'ayriyyah is one of the significant commercial sites, particularly known for livestock trade. It boasts numerous traditional markets offering folklore supplies, along with an ancient heritage market catering to the needs of desert dwellers and supplying essentials for land journeys.

An-Nu'ayriyyah Governorate is renowned for its annual spring festival, featuring entertainment, tourism, and cultural activities designed to showcase and enhance its tourism and entertainment components, while also promoting a positive image of the governorate, its touristic significance, and fostering economic prosperity within the region.

The festival's activities include various participations by a number of departments and entities, including the Royal Land Forces with a special corner for displaying armored vehicles and vehicles, poetry and singing evenings, in addition to the popular village that presents Arab heritage and ancient handicrafts, horse shows, camel riding, camel racing, the heritage village, the participation of productive families, family and children's theatre, interactive competitions, cartoon characters, and a number of air and water games and competitions for children.

The first college was established in an-Nu'ayriyyah Governorate in 2002, named the College of Education for Girls under the supervision of the General Administration for Girls’ Education in the Eastern Province. It admitted its first batch for the academic year 2002/2003. Subsequently, in 2008, it merged with the Ministry of Higher Education to become a branch of King Faisal University (KFU), and its name was altered to the College of Arts and Sciences for Girls.

The college continued to evolve alongside the development of the educational process in the Kingdom. In 2010, it became one of the colleges of the University of Dammam (now Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University) after a decision was made for its independence, mirroring similar transitions across the Kingdom. Subsequently, it became a college in the University of Hafr al-Batin, and its name changed from the College of Science and Arts to the University College, specifically known as University College in an-Nu'ayriyyah.

King Fahd International Airport in Dammam City serves the governorate and is the closest airport, situated approximately 195 km from the city center. It is an international airport boasting a capacity of approximately ten million passengers annually.

An-Nu'ayriyyah, in its location, acts as the meeting point of Highway Eighty-Five and Highway Seventy-Five. These are two major roads through which one can access the governorate and travel between the main cities in the Kingdom.