Fashion and department stores
Main shopping levels
International and Saudi brands for clothing, shoes and accessories.
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Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia
Al Rashid Mall
One of the largest and best-known shopping malls in Al Khobar, with international and local brands, restaurants and family entertainment — a cool refuge from the Eastern Province heat.
Favourite places
Food court and restaurants
Inside the mall
Fast food, cafés and family restaurants for a break.
Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)Family entertainment
Inside the mall
Play and entertainment areas for children.
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Local food
Kabsa
Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia
The national dish: long-grain rice cooked in a spiced broth with chicken or lamb, topped with fried onions, nuts and raisins, and served on a large shared platter.
Mutabbaq
Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia
Thin dough folded around minced meat, egg, leek and spices and fried on a hot griddle — a favourite evening street snack, sweet versions are filled with banana or cheese.
Saudi coffee (qahwa) and dates
Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia
Lightly roasted coffee brewed with cardamom, sometimes saffron or cloves, poured in small cups from a dallah and always served with dates. Offering it is the first gesture of hospitality; shake the cup gently when you have had enough.Read more
Where to eat
Mall food courts
Al Khobar and Dhahran
The big shopping malls have food courts and family restaurants — the easiest choice in the hot summer months, when eating outdoors is hard.
Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)Prince Turki Street
Facing the Al Khobar Corniche
Al Khobar's best-known restaurant and café street, running parallel to the Corniche, with Saudi, Gulf, Middle Eastern and international food and outdoor seating in the cooler months.
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Where to stay
Downtown Al Khobar and Al Olaya
Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia
Mid-range and business hotels around the older downtown streets and the Al Olaya district, close to the malls and King Fahd Road towards Dhahran.
Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)Al Khobar Corniche and Prince Turki Street
Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia
The liveliest place to stay in the Eastern Province: hotels facing the sea, with the Corniche, cafés and restaurants on the doorstep and the King Fahd Causeway a short drive away.
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Culture
Malls are central to social life in Saudi cities: families stroll, friends meet for coffee, and in summer the evening crowds stay until late.
History
Al Rashid Mall opened in the early 2000s as one of the big modern shopping centres of the Dammam–Khobar area. Like other Saudi malls, it is as much a social place as a shopping one: families come in the evening to walk, eat and let the children play, especially in the hot months.
Tour plans
Hot-day shopping
Half dayStep 1: Afternoon shopping
Spend the hottest hours browsing the mall.
Step 2: Coffee break
Stop at a café for Saudi coffee or a cold drink.
Step 3: Dinner
Eat in the mall or head to Prince Turki Street.
Step 4: Corniche
Finish with an evening walk by the sea.
Map
Travel information
Best time to visit
All year; in summer, the afternoons and evenings when it is too hot outside. Weekend evenings are busiest.
How to get there
The mall is in Al Khobar, a short taxi or ride-hailing trip from the Corniche and downtown. There is a large car park.
Getting around
Everything is under one roof; maps at the entrances help you find shops, the food court and entertainment areas.
Travel tips
- Many shops open later on Friday, after the midday prayer.
- Some shops close briefly at prayer times.
- Dress modestly in public: for men and women, clothes that cover the shoulders and knees; women are not required to wear an abaya or cover their hair, but loose clothing is expected. Some shops and small businesses close briefly at each of the five daily prayer times, and on Friday many open only after the midday prayer. The weekend is Friday and Saturday.