It is located inland from the Persian Gulf, southwest of Abqaiq and the Dhahran–Dammam–Al-Khobar metropolitan area on the road south to Haradh.

It remained under Ottoman control until 1913, when it was captured by members of the Wahhabi movement, under Ibn Saud.

The faculties of agriculture, veterinary medicine and animal resources for King Faisal University are located in the city (the others being in Dammam).

The Hofuf campus also has facilities where Saudi women can study medicine, dentistry and home economics.

The city is mainly served by King Fahd International Airport which is 160 km away in Dammam.