Rabigh Governorate
Rabigh (Muḥāfad͟hat Rābigh) is one of the oldest coastal governorates in Makkah al-Mukarramah Province. It is located on the northern side in the west of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It stretches around six thousand km and has many factories and industrial companies in addition to King Abdullah Economic City. It comprises around seventy-nine villages and hamlets and is populated by 112,383 people, according to the Saudi Census 2022, representing 1.4% of the region's total population.
Centers
Rabigh Governorate is classified as a Category "A" governorate, with six administrative centers under its jurisdiction—four of Category "A" and two of Category "B". They are:
| Center | Category |
|---|---|
| Hijr | A |
| Masturah | A |
| Al-Nuwaibi' | B |
| Al-Qadhimah | A |
| Al-Abwa' | A |
| Mughainiyyah | B |
Borders of Rabigh Governorate
Rabigh stretches along the Red Sea's western coast with a waterfront that is 100 km long. The governorate is located in the center of the coastal regional hub that connects Makkah Al-Mukarramah with Jeddah all the way to Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah and Yanbu in the north. It is bordered in the north and east by Badr, Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah, and Al-Mahd governorates in Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah Province, and by Jeddah Governorate in the south. Under the jurisdiction of Rabigh Governorate are Hajar Center, located about nintey km from Rabigh and home to Wadi Rabigh (also known as Wadi Hajar), and Al-Qudimah Center, within whose boundaries lies King Abdullah Economic City.
Located nearby is one of the Hajj Miqats (Al-Juhfah)—which is designated for residents of the Levant, Egypt, and Morocco. This made it a historic hub for commercial markets as pilgrims passed through, in addition to fishing due to its coastal location, and agriculture, which prominently features the cultivation of date palms, wheat, watermelons, and vegetables.
Significance
Rabigh enjoys an ancient Islamic history, as it used to be a stop on the path of the Prophet’s hijra from Makkah Al-Mukarramah to Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah. It also witnessed some historical events, such as the Battle of Waddan and the Battle of Banu Mustaliq. Moreover, Alia Historical Palace and Al-Juhfa Fort are two of its historical monuments.
Rabigh is one of the industrial governorates in Saudi Arabia. It has a number of factories and companies, including Aramco Refinery, Petro Rabigh which is affiliated with Aramco, Saudi Cement, Al Zamil Heavy Industries LTD, and Rabigh Power Plant, among other industrial companies.
Within the limits of King Abdullah Economic City, the governorate includes King Abdullah Port, and a station for the Haramain High-Speed railway.