Yanbu Governorate

Yanbu Governorate is one of the governorates of al-Madinah al-Munawwarah Province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is located on the coast of the Red Sea, approximately two hundred km west of the administrative capital of al-Madinah al-Munawwarah, and 1,047 km from the capital, Riyadh. The governorate's urban area comprises three cities that reflect its main characteristics, which are Yanbu al-Bahr, Yanbu al-Nakhl, and Yanbu Industrial City.

Yanbu Governorate is classified as Class (A), and it administratively falls under al-Madinah al-Munawwarah Province, along with seven other provinces. It is located on the western coast of the Red Sea. It is bordered to the north by al-Ula Governorate, to the west by Umluj Governorate, affiliated with Tabuk Province, to the east by al-Madinah al-Munawwarah, and to the south by Badr Governorate. Its total area, including its affiliated centers, is 10,680 km², with a total of eleven centers.

The climate in Yanbu Governorate is hot during the summer and moderately cool during the winter, with an increase in humidity in the month of September, reaching up to 94 percent. Rainfall in the province is limited during the winter, with temperatures dropping to as low as twelve degrees Celsius. On the other hand, during the summer season, the highest temperatures can reach up to forty-nine degrees Celsius.

Yanbu is considered the second-largest government in the al-Madinah al-Munawwarah Province in terms of population. It is home to 16.8 percent of the population of the al-Madinah al-Munawwarah Province, with a total of 359,631 residents, according to the 2022 Saudi Census.

Yanbu Governorate is considered an industrial base and a strategic port in the Kingdom. Its location strategically bridges the continents of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Approximately 19.65 percent of its land area is dedicated to industrial activities. It has a direct connection to the petroleum resources in the Eastern Region of the Kingdom, primarily represented by Yanbu Industrial Port, the largest crude oil export port on the Red Sea coast, where around three million barrels of crude oil are exported daily.

The economic significance of Yanbu Governorate is prominently demonstrated through its hosting of the Royal Commission at Yanbu, which is one of the Kingdom's most important industrial clusters. Additionally, it is the world's largest center for oil refining. Yanbu Industrial City boasts fifty-eight major industrial complexes, while there are 148 light and supporting industries in the city.

Yanbu has obtained the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certification in global city indicators for sustainable development. It has attracted industrial investments totaling SAR329 billion, making up 22 percent of the total foreign industrial investments in the Kingdom. Yanbu contributes approximately 25 percent to the local industrial gross domestic product (GDP).

Yanbu is urbanistically composed of a series of distinct cities, each with its unique characteristics. It is divided into three main parts: Yanbu al-Bahr, Yanbu al-Nakhl, and Yanbu Industrial City. To the north lies Yanbu al-Bahr, which overlooks the Red Sea coast. This area represents the historical part of the city, with a history dating back approximately 2,500 years. It includes a historic port that was a major station on ancient trade and pilgrimage routes. It was also inhabited by the British officer Thomas Edward, famously known as Lawrence of Arabia. His former residence is now a historical museum within the old city.

On the Red Sea coast, south of Yanbu al-Bahr, Yanbu Industrial City is located, home to various facilities and oil refineries. It represents the industrial and economic landscape of Yanbu, with hundreds of small factories engaged in a wide range of highly skilled, specialized crafts.

In the eastern part of the province lies Yanbu al-Nakhl, a small village known for its abundance of date palm farms and natural springs.

In the southern part, Yanbu preserves its historical heritage in al-Swar Historical District, where its buildings reflect the coastal environment of Yanbu. It is a significant historical commercial center and contains the historical homes of the old traders of Yanbu. These homes were constructed using sea stones, palm trunks, and fronds and were adorned with Mashrabiyas. They are sealed with the distinctive wooden doors for which the city is known.

Yanbu is home to a regional airport, the Prince Abdulmohsin Bin Abdulaziz Airport, which is located approximately thirty km from the city center.