Duba Governorate

Duba is one of the governorates of the Tabuk Province in the northwest of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It stretches along the Red Sea coast and is located 180 km southwest of Tabuk City. It has an area of 12,600 km, and its population is 54,917 people, according to the 2022 Saudi census. It is classified under category A governorates. Fifteen centers are affiliated with it, including al-Khuraibah, Shawaaq, Sharmah, Sadr, and al-Muwaylih. In 2021, a royal decree was issued to establish an authority to develop it along with three other governorates, named the Development Authority for Yanbu, Umluj, al-Wajh, and Duba.

Duba Governorate is one of the most important stations on the coastal road known as the Egyptian Hajj route, which contributed to its developmental advancement. It encompasses and is adjacent to a number of vital projects and sites that have elevated its importance, including:

Duba Port: Established in 1994, it is located thirty-five km west of Duba Governorate. It is the nearest Saudi port to the Suez Canal and the ports of the Mediterranean Basin countries.

Green Duba Project: Located north of Duba Governorate, it is one of the largest solar energy projects in the world. It aims to position Duba as a gateway for exporting electrical energy globally, following the implementation of a high-reliability electrical voltage interconnection system.

Saudi Aramco's station and the Iron Mine: Saudi Aramco's petroleum product distribution station is one of the largest distribution stations in the north and northwest of the Kingdom, responsible for supplying fuel stations, electricity companies, and factories with petroleum products. The iron mine, located in Wadi Sawawin northeast of Duba and forty-five km away, is among the largest iron mines in the Kingdom.

Tabuk Fish Company: It is a closed joint-stock company with a capital of SAR100 million. It's one of the most important aquaculture projects in the Kingdom and the largest project in the Middle East. It was established to enhance the aquaculture industry in the province by using modern closed systems with advanced technology or developed floating cages. Its production capacity reaches up to seventy million fries. Duba Governorate stands out from other coastal regions due to the presence of prawns (shrimp) in economically viable sizes due to the nature of the aquatic soil that attracts shrimp. The company was established in 2005, and it began its actual operations in 2008. It focuses on cultivating various types of fish using floating cage systems in seawater.

King Abdulaziz Castle in Duba Governorate. (SPA)

During the reign of the founder King Abdulaziz Bin Abdulrahman Al Saud, King Abdulaziz Castle was built in 1933 to serve as the seat of the rule for the province. In 1994, the Duba Port on the Red Sea was inaugurated, making it the closest Saudi port to the Suez Canal and the ports of the Mediterranean Basin countries.

Duba Governorate boasts a range of tourist attractions. Among these is al-Disah, an area located in Wadi Qarar, which stands out for its wild flora, al-Bardi trees, and mountains with fresh springs. Historically, it was a site for metal smelting. The area also features places like Shurma, al-Khuraiba, and Jabal Shar (Shar Mountain), which is notable for its elevation. Nu'man Island, the largest island with underwater slopes, is another highlight. Additionally, there's al-Qaf Beach to the south of Bakr Beach, characterized by its scattered Shura trees, making it ideal for swimming and various marine activities, as well as the scenic Wadi Ainounah.