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Khobar Water Tower

Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia

Khobar Water Tower

Al Khobar's best-known landmark: a tall water tower on the Corniche, topped by a large tank, with fountains and gardens at its base.

Favourite places

Local food

  • 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

  • Hamour (grouper)

    Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia

    The favourite fish of the Gulf coast, served grilled, fried or cooked with spiced rice (machboos). Eastern Province fish restaurants usually let you pick the fish and the way it is cooked.

Where to eat

  • 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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  • Seafood restaurants

    Dammam and Al Khobar

    Fish restaurants across the two cities serve the catch of the Gulf — hamour, shrimp and other local fish — grilled, fried or with machboos rice. Many let you choose your fish from the counter.

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Where to stay

  • 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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  • 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.

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Culture

For many residents the tower is the symbol of Al Khobar, and families have long come here for evening walks and photos by the fountains.

History

The Khobar Water Tower was built on the Corniche in the 1980s as part of the city's water supply and quickly became its symbol, appearing on postcards and in photos of the city. Its tall shaft and rounded tank stand out against the flat skyline of the coast.

The tower has included a viewing level and a café at the top, which have opened and closed over the years during renovations; whether you can go up depends on when you visit. At ground level, its fountains and gardens are part of the Corniche park.

Tour plans

Landmark and seafront

2–3 hours

  1. Step 1: Sunset at the tower

    Arrive before sunset for photos of the tower against the sky.

  2. Step 2: Corniche walk

    Walk along the seafront as the lights come on.

  3. Step 3: Dinner

    Eat on Prince Turki Street or at a seafood restaurant nearby.

Map

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Travel information

Best time to visit

Evenings, when the tower is lit and the Corniche is lively; November to March is most comfortable.

How to get there

It stands on the Al Khobar Corniche; take a taxi or ride-hailing car, or walk from Prince Turki Street.

Getting around

Walk around the base and the gardens, then continue along the promenade.

Travel tips

  • Check locally whether the upper viewing level is open.
  • The tower makes a good meeting point on the Corniche.
  • 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.

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