Dhahran, with Dammam and Al Khobar, form the Greater Dammam Area located eastern of Saudi Arabia on the Arabian Gulf. The town of Dhahran is located near the scene of the original discovery of oil in Saudi Arabia in 1938, it is now a modern community that serves as the administrative headquarters of the Arabian American Oil Company (Aramco), the world's largest producer of oil. For obvious reasons, it is also the site of King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals which is founded there in 1963. The first KFUPM students were admitted a year later, on 23 September 1964, when 67 young men enrolled in what was then the College of Petroleum and Minerals (CPM). Since that time, the University enrolment has grown to 9000 students in 2005-2006. Currently, KFUPM is proud to be a leading university in the gulf region, due to its culture of achieving and maintaining high-quality standards in all of its academic programs and its strong attachment with the booming industry sector in Saudi Arabia.

The Dammam Area has an ample amount of shopping centers range from the smaller, downtown, ethnic shops to the ultra-modern Malls, with its many Western brands. A lot of attractions points are in the region include:

• Corniche Al-Khobar: This picturesque boardwalk along the Arabian Gulf provides a lovely tiled walking surface as well as a jogging path.

• The King Fahd Causeway: This fifteen and a half miles long (25 km) bridge is the second longest causeway in the world linking Saudi Arabia to Bahrain.

• Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Center for Science and Technology: The center contains seven halls devoted for various areas of science and technology cover various fields including earth, space, seas and exploration.

• Heritage Centre Dammam: This museum depicts various aspects of regional life in Saudi Arabia. It also has an interesting collection of local Bedouin crafts, traditional costumes and Islamic pottery, as well as some Stone Age tools.

• The Saudi Aramco Exhibition Centre: This is the best museum in Saudi Arabia; a fascinating guide to the oil industry, explaining how the oil is brought up to the surface and how it is located in the first place. There are also displays on Arab science and technology.

• Half Moon Bay: Private and public beaches are in this area up the coast, known as Half Moon Bay. It is worth a drive along the coast road. Quadpeds are very popular and may be hired for a drive up the quite impressive sand dunes. Camel rides may be booked in many areas. There are also diverse open market areas to browse.