Jubail (Arabic: الجبيل, Al Jubayl) is a city in the Eastern province on the Persian Gulf coast of Saudi Arabia, with a total population of 474,679 as of 2022.

Human habitation dates back at least 7,000 years, when the people of Dilmun — whose civilization radiated up and down the coast of the Arabian Gulf — established a settlement there.

In September 1933, Jubail gained a measure of fame as the landing site for the first team of geologists to explore for oil in Saudi Arabia.

[2] The origins of Jubail date back to the early Islamic period when it was known as 'Aynayn (Arabic: عينين), meaning "two springs.

Jubail was chosen as a base for early geological surveys due to its harbor, freshwater springs, and favorable terrain.

On September 23, 1933, geologists from Standard Oil Company of California, including Robert Miller, Schuyler "Krug" Henry, and Karl Twitchell, arrived in Jubail to conduct exploratory work.

However, as oil exploration activities shifted to Dhahran and Khobar, Jubail reverted to being a minor fishing center.

As of 1972, the town boasted a fishing fleet of approximately 160 boats, with catches including shrimp and small sharks that were renowned as far as Kuwait and Riyadh.

[4] Jubail’s transformation began in the early 1970s when the Saudi government initiated plans to develop it into a major industrial city.

This initiative was part of a broader strategy to diversify the Kingdom's economy and leverage its vast natural gas reserves.

Jubail was selected as the site for a massive industrial complex due to its strategic location and existing infrastructure.

Thousands of workers were relocated to Jubail to operate the facilities, and the city was redesigned to accommodate the growing population.

It is a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia's industrial and economic strategy, contributing significantly to the country's non-oil exports.