Jizan Explained

Jazan
Native Name:جازان, جيزان
Native Name Lang:ar
Settlement Type:City
Pushpin Map:Saudi Arabia
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: Saudi Arabia
Subdivision Type1:Region
Subdivision Name1:Jizan Region
Leader Title:Governor / Emir
Leader Name:Prince Mohammed Bin Nasser Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud (Since 3 April 2001[1])
Population Footnotes:[2]
Population Total:173,919
Population As Of:2022 census
Population Metro:1,404,997 (Jizan region)
Population Density Km2:auto
Coordinates:16.8892°N 42.5611°W
Elevation M:40
Timezone:AST
Utc Offset:+3

Jizan (Arabic: جيزان|Jīzān), also spelled Jazan (Arabic: جازان|Jāzān), Gizan or Gazan, is a port city and the capital of Jizan Region, which lies in the southwest corner of Saudi Arabia. Jizan City is situated on the coast of the Red Sea and serves a large agricultural heartland that has a population of 173,919 as of 2022 and over 1.4 million, in the whole Jizan region. As the city is the capital of the region, it has the regional airport as well as the Jizan seaport. The area is noted for its high-quality production of fruits such as mangoes, figs, papayas, plums, and coffee.[3]

Jizan has one of the largest megaprojects market in the kingdom with significant infrastructure projects worth many billions of dollars. Saudi Aramco is building a 400,000 bpd refinery with associated terminal facilities on the Red Sea near the city, scheduled for completion in late 2018.[4]

Ethnography

The inhabitants of Jizan are Arab and split between Sunni Muslims and Shia Muslims that live in the Jazan region.[5]

Economy

In the early 20th century, Jizan was a major site for pearl fishing. When World War I began, trade declined, due to ships moving to Al Hudaydah.[6]

Today, ambitious projects in transport, renewable energy, tourism and agricultural development are taking place in the Jizan region, particularly in Jazan Economic City, including a US$3 Billion aluminium smelter.[7]

Jazan is being turned into Saudi Arabia's naval industry hub. Furthermore, the southern and western outskirts of the city are a place which the Kingdom wants to turn into its agricultural hub due to its underground water resources as well as the rich and diverse soil.

Jazan Refinery

Jazan Refinery is a megaproject under construction and owned by Saudi Aramco. The Refinery will process heavy and medium crude oil to create liquefied petroleum gas, sulfur, asphalt, benzene, and paraxylene. It is expected to produce 400,000 barrels per day.[8]

Transport

Jazan Port and Jizan Regional Airport serve the city of Jizan.

Climate

Jizan has a hot desert climate (Köppen: BWh) with a rainfall below 200 mm per year and an average annual temperature above . The weather is very hot all year round and its average annual temperature is one of the hottest in the world, as daily lows average over and highs over even in the mildest month of the year, while unlike a lot of tropical cities the summer is even noticeably warmer.It is very humid but parched in some months, making the weather volatile. Sandstorms are quite common in areas further from the sea.

The highest recorded temperature was on 15 September 2006, while the lowest was on 7 February 1993.[9]

See also

External links

16.8892°N 42.5611°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: CTHM Issues Four Royal Decrees. Kuwait News Agency. 19 May 2020.
  2. Web site: Jazan Region . 2024-02-03 . www.citypopulation.de.
  3. Web site: Fruit production in Jazan flourishes during Ramadan.
  4. Web site: Aramco lets contracts for Jazan refinery, terminal. Oil & Gas Journal. 11 February 2016.
  5. Web site: 2019 Report on International Religious Freedom: Saudi Arabia. Pockets of Zaydis, members of another branch of Shia Islam, numbering a total of approximately 20,000, reside primarily in the provinces of Jizan and Najran along the border with Yemen. Office of International Religious Freedom. U.S. Department of State.
  6. Book: Prothero, G.W.. Arabia. 1920. H.M. Stationery Office. London. 75.
  7. Web site: $3bn Jazan aluminium smelter deal signed. Trade Arabia. 11 February 2016.
  8. Web site: Saudi Aramco, Air Products, and ACWA Power to form over $8 billion gasification/power joint venture at Jazan Economic City. www.saudiaramco.com. en. 2019-05-24.
  9. Web site: Gizan, Saudi Arabia. Jeddah Regional Climate Center. 24 August 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304095615/http://jrcc.sa/reports_files/1985_2010Reports/Jazan.RTF. 4 March 2016. dead.
  10. Web site: Monthly Jazān water temperature chart . Seatemperatures.org . 2014-01-20 .