Duba, Saudi Arabia
 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(April 2014) |
Duba
ضبا | |
|---|---|
 Duba harbor | |
  Duba | |
| Coordinates:27°20′57.3″N35°41′46.2″E/ 27.349250°N 35.696167°E | |
| Country |  Saudi Arabia |
| Region | Tabuk Province |
| Area | |
| • Metro | 11,680 km2(4,510 sq mi) |
| Population (2022 census[1]) | |
| •City | 39,543 |
| •Metro | 54,917 (Duba governorate) |
| Time zone | UTC+3(AST) |
Duba(Arabic:ضبا) is a small city on the northernRed Seacoast, ofSaudi Arabia.It is inTabuk Province.Local citizens describe it asThe Pearl of the Red Sea.The population of Duba is about 39,000.[2]
History
[edit]The first reference to Duba, under this name, is from 1203. However, theValley of SalmaandValley of Kafafahwere already known many centuries before.[citation needed]
The ancientGreekscholarPtolemymentioned a trade route leading fromKafafahtoLihyan(today'sAl-`Ula). SheikhAbd al-Ghani al-Nabulsiwrote about Duba in 1790, in his account of going toMeccafor the Hajj.[citation needed]
Historically it is part of Madian; the city is mentioned in Islamic scriptures. According to theQuran,ProphetMoussasettled in Madian (the region starts from Jordan river and extends to the town of Duba). The town of ProphetShoaibas it is called is said to be located near Maqna where an ancient well can still be seen. The well is said to be the one where Moussa fed the flock.[citation needed]
TheOttoman Turksfortified the city, protecting the route fromEgypttoArabia.[citation needed]
TheArab Revolthad taken control of Duba from the Ottomans by mid-1917.[3]
After the Saudi conquest of the city in 1933,King Abdulazizbuilt his castle there in the same year.[4][dubious–discuss][self-published source]
Geography
[edit]Duba is located in the northwest of Saudi Arabia on the coast of theRed Seaon the Egyptian road of theHajj,about 300 km from the intersection ofEgypt,JordanandIsrael.Duba includes 3 valleys,Dahkanto the north, andSalmaandKafafahon the south. It is about 800 km from Jeddah / Mecca via the coastal highway that passes through the major port and industrial city ofYanbu.
Duba is a port city and ferries and ships operate from here for Egypt and Jordan. TheHurghadaandSafagaports of Egypt can be reached within about 3 hours (minimum) by ferry. It is strategically located at the starting point ofGulf of Aqabathat ends at Eilat (Israel) and Aqaba, Jordan. It is one of the most important economic epicenter for its own country, each year there are a lot of merchants who pass Duba City.
The Springs of Maqna are an interesting picnic spot and there are notable beaches such as Sharma Beach, though it is not developed as a tourist spot.
The City is also serving as hub forNeom.It is located about 25 kilometres (16 mi) south of the planned site on the Neom Industrial City.[5]
Climate
[edit]Köppen-Geiger climate classification systemclassifies its climate ashot desert(BWh).[6]
| Climate data for Duba | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 22.4 (72.3) |
24 (75) |
26.4 (79.5) |
29.2 (84.6) |
32.5 (90.5) |
34.6 (94.3) |
35.6 (96.1) |
35.8 (96.4) |
34 (93) |
31.8 (89.2) |
27.7 (81.9) |
23.5 (74.3) |
29.8 (85.6) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 16.9 (62.4) |
18.2 (64.8) |
20.7 (69.3) |
23.5 (74.3) |
27.2 (81.0) |
29.4 (84.9) |
30.6 (87.1) |
30.8 (87.4) |
29 (84) |
26.4 (79.5) |
22.2 (72.0) |
18 (64) |
24.4 (75.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 11.4 (52.5) |
12.5 (54.5) |
15.1 (59.2) |
17.9 (64.2) |
21.9 (71.4) |
24.3 (75.7) |
25.6 (78.1) |
25.8 (78.4) |
24 (75) |
21 (70) |
16.8 (62.2) |
12.6 (54.7) |
19.1 (66.3) |
| Averageprecipitationmm (inches) | 1 (0.0) |
1 (0.0) |
1 (0.0) |
0 (0) |
1 (0.0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
1 (0.0) |
4 (0.2) |
2 (0.1) |
11 (0.3) |
| Source:Climate-Data.org(altitude: 15m)[6] | |||||||||||||
Transportation
[edit]There is no local public transport within the city. Most of the city is within walking range. Rental car facilities are present for day trips (or even more for nearby attractions). Some individuals do operate their cars as private taxis but they are difficult to trace. Ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Careem do not operate in Duba however, a similar but lesser known app called Kaiian has a few drivers who operate on a cash-only basis.
The neighboring citiesTabuk(180 km) andAl Wajh(about 160 km) have airport facilities that connect the region with major national and international airports of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Saptco Saudi Road Transport offers bus services fromJeddahandMeccatoTabuk, Saudi Arabiavia Duba. It takes about 12 hours to reach Duba from Jeddah.
In Art and literature
[edit]Duba is the subject of a painting bySamuel Austin,an engraving of which was published in Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1833 as
Thubare, a Port on the Arabian Coast.along with a poetical illustration byLetitia Elizabeth Landonthat recalls the story of the Fairy Pari-Banou and Prince Ahmed.[7]
See also
[edit]
External links
[edit]- Official site
- City of Dubaon YouTube
References
[edit]- ^"Duba governorate".www.citypopulation.de.Retrieved2024-02-03.
- ^Port of Dhiba (Duba), Saudi Arabia
- ^Sass, Erik (6 July 1917)."WWI Centennial: Arabs Take Aqaba, Kerensky Offensive Fails".Mental Floss.Archivedfrom the original on 7 July 2017.
- ^Hisham Muhammad Ali Ajimi (2005).قلاع الأزنم والوجه وضباء بالمنطقة الشمالية الغربية من المملكة العربية السعودية دراسة معمار[The Castles Of Al-Aznam - Al-Wajh And Dhaba In The Northwestern Region Of The Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia - An Architectural Study] (in Arabic). pp. 79–82.
- ^"Parsons Corporation Awarded NEOM Contract".U.S Saudi Businesses Cooperation.Archivedfrom the original on 2021-04-30.
- ^ab"Climate: Duba - Climate graph, Temperature graph, Climate table".Climate-Data.org.Retrieved2014-02-23.
- ^Landon, Letitia Elizabeth (1832). "picture".Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1833.Fisher, Son & Co.Landon, Letitia Elizabeth (1832). "poetical illustration".Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1833.Fisher, Son & Co.
| Main Saudi Arabian citiesby population | |
|---|---|
| 1,000,000 and more | |
| 300,000-999,999 | |
| <300,000 | |
Source:cdsi.gov.sa | |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
