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Dammam Facts
Sourced numbers on Dammam's population, area, time zone and landmarks, each with a citation, so you can check the original source yourself.
A quick answer: Dammam is the capital of Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province, on the Arabian Gulf coast, at approximately 26.43°N, 50.10°E (source: Wikidata, Q160320). Population estimates for the city vary by source, roughly 1.3 to 1.6 million; the city sits in Arabia Standard Time (UTC+3), the same zone as the rest of Saudi Arabia.
Population
Population figures for Dammam differ noticeably depending on the source and whether they count the city proper or the wider metropolitan area. A figure of roughly 1.38 million, citing Saudi Arabia's General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT), appears in Global Media Insight's 2026 overview. World Population Review estimates the 2026 city population at approximately 1.6 million. The UN World Urbanization Prospects dataset lists a lower figure, around 1.4 million, for "Ad-Dammam." This site does not present a single number as definitive; treat any precise figure you see elsewhere with the same caution (sources: globalmediainsight.com, worldpopulationreview.com, UN World Urbanization Prospects, accessed 2026-08-30).
Location and geography
| Coordinates | 26°26′N, 50°06′E (26.433, 50.100) |
|---|---|
| Country | Saudi Arabia |
| Region | Eastern Province (capital) |
| Time zone | Arabia Standard Time, UTC+3 |
Source: Wikidata (Q160320), en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dammam, accessed 2026-08-30.
Neighbouring cities: not the same place
Dammam sits inside a built-up metropolitan area shared with Dhahran and Al Khobar. Each is a separate city with its own municipality. Ithra, the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, is in Dhahran, not Dammam. Half Moon Bay is roughly 50 kilometres south, near Al Khobar, in Al Aziziyah. Attractions in one city are not automatically inside another, even when travel guides group them together for convenience.
Landmarks
- Dammam Corniche: the city's waterfront promenade, home to Heritage Village and Al Marjan Island.
- Heritage Village: a 1998-built open-air cultural museum on the Corniche (source: theurbanactivist.com, evendo.com, accessed 2026-08-30). Full detail on its own page.
- Al Marjan Island (Coral Island): a 1991-built artificial recreational island at the southern end of the Corniche, 53,000 square metres, with a 30-metre observation tower; a park, not a museum (source: houseofsaud.com-style regional listings, accessed 2026-08-30).
- King Fahd Park: a public park in Dammam; current condition and opening status were not independently confirmed during this research pass, so check locally before planning a visit around it.
- King Fahd International Airport (DMM): Dammam's international gateway, roughly 30 kilometres from the city centre.
Sources and last checked
| Claim | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Coordinates, Eastern Province capital status | Wikidata Q160320 / Wikipedia | 2026-08-30 |
| Population range | Global Media Insight, World Population Review, UN WUP | 2026-08-30 |
| Heritage Village founding | theurbanactivist.com, evendo.com | 2026-08-30 |
| Al Marjan Island facts | Regional tourism listings | 2026-08-30 |
| Half Moon Bay location | onlybyland.com, sandee.com | 2026-08-30 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Dammam?
Estimates vary by source and methodology, roughly between 1.3 and 1.6 million for the city, with no single official 2026 figure confirmed directly from GASTAT during this research pass (sources: Global Media Insight, World Population Review, UN World Urbanization Prospects, accessed 2026-08-30).
What time zone is Dammam in?
Dammam is in Arabia Standard Time (AST), UTC+3, the same time zone used across all of Saudi Arabia including Riyadh.
Continue exploring: Heritage Village for the Corniche's main cultural site, or Hotels in Dammam to plan a stay.