Al Mubarraz, Saudi Arabia

Capital City

Living in a Saudi industrial hub comes with a stark reality check: scorching temperatures routinely hit 113°F (45°C) in summer months. Al Mubarraz, with its 837,000 residents as of 2020, serves as the northern gateway to Al-Ahsa governorate and carries significant historical weight as the district's administrative center from 1669 to 1793.

The city's landscape is dotted with two ancient fortifications - Sahood Castle, with foundations dating back four millennia, and the more recent Muhaires Castle from the early Saudi era. Several springs punctuate the urban fabric, including the sulfur-rich Ain Um Najm (now closed) that once drew health-seeking visitors. While the old quarter features traditional neighborhoods like Asseiaseb and Al-shu'ba, newer developments such as Al-yahya and the Aramco-designated Mahasen neighborhood reflect the city's industrial evolution.