At the outset of this presentation, I pray to Almighty God to preserve His blessings upon us, protect them from disappearance, bestow His grace upon us, guide us to what He loves and is pleased with, and rectify our affairs and the affairs of our youth and daughters. Indeed, He is capable of all things.
This is Khafji
With its gentle tranquility,
its blue waters,
its beautiful desert plains that turn green during the spring,
its treasures hidden beneath the earth—
oil and natural gas—
its giant companies that work day and night
to extract the wealth of this land and enjoy its returns,
its people, who hardly find time to sit with themselves,
for everything calls out to them:
Work… move… study… walk in nature…
The hours of daylight are short,
but when night draws its curtain,
it announces the beginning of calm and rest—
the beginning of the romance that fills its evenings,
with the moon casting its beautiful reflection
upon the surface of its peaceful sea.
Yes—this is the city of Khafji,
known as:
“The City of Challenge and Resilience.”
A Brief Introduction
Khafji is a coastal city on the Arabian Gulf, located within the former Neutral Zone shared between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the State of Kuwait. It lies 130 km south of Kuwait City and 300 km north of Dammam in the Eastern Province. Ras Khafji is situated at approximately 28.25° N latitude and 48.31° E longitude.
After the division agreement of 1390 AH, Khafji became part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
For more than thirty years prior, the area served as a passage for Bedouin tribes seeking pasture and water for their camels and sheep. The region was especially known in spring for its green landscape and abundant water sources.
This remained the case until December 1957 (Jumada I 1377 AH), when an oil concession agreement was signed between Saudi Arabia and the Japanese-owned Arabian Oil Company. On 10 February 1958, the Arabian Oil Company Ltd. was established and began constructing a permanent operational base in Ras Khafji due to its strategic location for oil exploration.
When oil was discovered, the company required workers to support its expanding operations, build facilities, and manage essential services. Employment opportunities opened for citizens seeking stability and better livelihoods. People from across the Kingdom flocked to Khafji, forming the first nucleus of its population.
As the city grew and families settled, the need for public services increased. One of the most significant historical events was Khafji’s reception of King Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Sheikh Abdullah Al‑Salem Al‑Sabah, Emir of Kuwait, to attend the company’s celebration of the first exported shipment of oil in 1381 AH (1961 AD).
The Name “Khafji”
Since its early days, the city has been known by several names. Its residents came from all regions of the Kingdom and from various nationalities, each pronouncing the name according to their dialect.
Linguistically, the name may derive from “al‑khafḍ”, meaning a low‑lying area.
Elders used to call it al‑Khafsi, while others said al‑Khafqi, and over time the letters shifted to form Khafji.
Another interpretation links the name to the salinity of its water, as al‑khafīj in classical Arabic refers to salty water.
A third explanation connects it to al‑khafj, a spring plant with pale color and broad leaves, which grows in spring—perhaps the most likely origin, given the city’s beauty during the spring season.
Some also attribute the name to the ancient Khafajah tribe, a branch of ‘Aqil, suggesting the name evolved from Khafaji to Khafji.
A City That Endured Hardship
Khafji endured some of the most difficult crises:
- During the Iran–Iraq War (1980–1988), the sounds of bombardment shook the windows of our homes.
- No sooner had that war ended than Iraq invaded Kuwait—whose border lies only 10 km from Khafji.
- The Iraqi army then advanced into Khafji, which had been evacuated and turned into a battlefield.
We were overwhelmed with sorrow, believing we might never return—or that we would return only to find our homes completely destroyed.
The Iraqi army occupied Khafji for 100 hours—the most difficult 100 hours in the history of this peaceful city.