Al Kharj

Desert crossroads

Al Kharj is a governorate in Riyadh Province, Saudi Arabia. It lies 83 km southeast of Riyadh and has a population of about 425,300.

Geographic basics

The city operates on Asia/Riyadh time and uses the Saudi riyal (SAR). Arabic (ar‑SA) is the official language spoken by residents. Its position on major rail and road links makes it a logistical hub for the kingdom. The geographic coordinates (24.15541 N, 47.33457 E) can be used in mapping tools to verify location and nearby facilities.

Durable orientation

Static safety descriptions cannot capture current crime trends, health‑care capacity, or emergency response times. Readers should treat this information as a durable orientation, not a real‑time risk assessment. For up‑to‑date safety data, consult the live safety calculator that incorporates recent alerts.

Official sources

Official Saudi sources such as the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Health, and local police stations provide the most reliable security updates. The Al‑Kharj Chamber of Commerce and Industry can also advise on business‑related safety matters. When local evidence is unavailable, the Saudi embassy in the visitor’s home country is a fallback point of contact.

For a broader overview see Al‑Kharj.

Food Culture

Al Kharj is a governorate located in the Riyadh Region of Saudi Arabia. Positioned 83 km southeast of the capital city, the territory supports a population of 425,300 residents and functions as a vital agricultural, industrial, and logistical hub.

Desert oasis springs

Vegetable baskets and wheat fields

Massive climate-controlled dairy farms

The governorate yields more than 26% of the national vegetable output alongside substantial volumes of wheat, dates, and greenhouse produce. Internationally recognized as the Dairy Capital of the Middle East, Al Kharj produces over 65% of Saudi Arabia's national milk supply. Major agricultural conglomerates operate extensive processing super-factories and integrated livestock divisions within the territory, including:

• Almarai
• Al Safi Danone
• Nadec
• ARASCO

To support this agribusiness infrastructure, the Food Industries Institute trains the local workforce in modern food security, automated packaging, and supply chain management. Additionally, the region hosts the annual Al-Kharj Dairy and Food Festival to celebrate the area's agricultural heritage and draw regional investors.

Al Kharj is a city in the Riyadh Region of Saudi Arabia.

It lies about 83 km southeast of Riyadh and had a population of roughly 425,300 according to the latest count.

Neighborhoods

Desert oasis: Al‑Aziziyah

Centered in the heart of Al‑Saih City, the Al‑Aziziyah district cradles the historic King Abdulaziz Palace, a relic of 1940‑41 that anchors the area’s cultural landscape.

Eastward gateway: Abu Jafan Palace

Located just east of Al‑Saih, the Abu Jafan Palace was erected in 1946‑47 during King Abdulaziz’s reign, serving travelers from the eastern regions and pilgrims bound for Mecca.

Historical crossroads: Dalam

The town of Dalam, noted for its archaeological monuments, witnessed fierce battles between King Abdulaziz and Ibn Rashid and today stands as a testament to the governorate’s layered past.

Ancient settlement: Al‑Yamama and Al‑Banna

In the north of Al‑Saih, Al‑Yamama hosts the venerable Al‑Banna settlement, where pottery and bronze artifacts trace human presence back to the mid‑3rd millennium BC.

For further details, see the Al‑Kharj article on Wikipedia.

Al Kharj is a governorate located 83 kilometers southeast of the capital city in the Riyadh Region of Saudi Arabia. Positioned at coordinates 24.15541 latitude and 47.33457 longitude, the territory sustains a population of 425,300 residents within the Asia/Riyadh timezone.

Geographical Horizons and Ancient Ground

Terrain shaped by deep antiquity. Flourishing desert oasis networks. Fed by natural springs across the landscape.

Ancient Settlements in the North

The town of Al-Yamama sits north of the city of Al-Saih as one of the oldest towns in the Arabian Peninsula. Its northeastern corner holds Al-Banna, an ancient settlement dating from the mid-3rd millennium BC where pottery pieces, silver and bronze accessories, and three ancient coins were recovered.

Historical Palaces and Missions

A Saudi-French archaeological mission uncovered sites dating back approximately 100,000 years within the governorate. Historical monuments feature the King Abdulaziz Palace built in 1359 AH in the Al-Aziziyah district of Al-Saih City, alongside Abu Jafan Palace constructed east of Al-Saih in 1366 AH for eastern travelers and pilgrims.

Al Kharj is a city located in the Riyadh Region of Saudi Arabia, with a population of 425,300. The city is situated 83 km southeast of the capital city and has the second-largest population in the province.

Geographically, Al Kharj is positioned at a latitude of 24.15541 and a longitude of 47.33457, making it a critical agricultural, industrial, and logistical hub for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The city's unique geography allows for massive, climate-controlled farming models to thrive despite the arid climate, earning it the reputation as the "Dairy Capital" of the Middle East, producing over 65% of Saudi Arabia's national milk supply.

For more information on Al Kharj, visit the Wikipedia page or the GeoNames record for details on its history, economy, and geography.

Al Kharj is a city located in the Riyadh Region of Saudi Arabia, with a population of 425,300. The city is situated 83 km southeast of the capital city and has the second-largest population in the province.

Historically, Al Kharj has been an important destination for researchers and those interested in the history of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with numerous historical monuments, including the King Abdulaziz Palace, which was built in 1359 AH (1940-1941 AD). The city's historical value is also evident in the Abu Jafan Palace, located east of the city of Al-Saih, which was built during the reign of King Abdulaziz in 1366 AH (1946-1947 AD).

The city's geography has played a significant role in its development, with its unique location allowing for massive, climate-controlled farming models to thrive despite the arid climate, earning it the recognition as the "Dairy Capital" of the Middle East, producing over 65% of Saudi Arabia's national milk supply. For more information, visit the Wikipedia page on Al-Kharj.

Al Kharj is a governorate located in the Riyadh Region of Saudi Arabia, positioned 83 kilometers southeast of the capital city. The administrative territory holds the second-largest population in the province at 425,300 residents and operates within the Asia/Riyadh timezone.

Geography and deep antiquity define the terrain, anchored by ancient roots and desert landscapes. In the northern sector of the city of Al-Saih, the town of Al-Yamama stands as one of the oldest towns in the Arabian Peninsula. Archaeological excavations at the pre-Islamic site of Al-Banna have yielded pottery fragments, three ancient coins, and silver and bronze accessories pointing to continuous settlement reaching back to the mid-third millennium BC. Further expanding the geographic timeline, a Saudi-French archaeological mission uncovered regional sites dating back approximately one hundred thousand years.

The landscape encompasses historical monuments tied to the founding of the Kingdom, including the King Abdulaziz Palace built in 1359 AH (1940-1941 AD) in the Al-Aziziyah district of Al-Saih City, and the eastward Abu Jafan Palace constructed in 1366 AH (1946-1947 AD) for travelers and pilgrims. Additionally, the historic city of Dalam within the governorate preserves physical monuments and the site of a fierce historical battle between King Abdulaziz and Ibn Rashid.

Economic Geography of Al Kharj

Al Kharj is a governorate situated in the Riyadh Region of Saudi Arabia at latitude 24.15541 and longitude 47.33457. Positioned 83 km southeast of the capital city, the territory supports a population of 425,300 operating within the Asia/Riyadh timezone.

The geography of the area supports a vital sub-regional economy functioning as a critical agricultural, industrial, and logistical hub. Historically a desert oasis fed by natural springs, the region utilizes its unique positioning for large-scale agricultural and industrial production. Local commerce and investment frameworks are driven by the Al-Kharj Chamber of Commerce and Industry, established in 2005. Under Saudi Vision 2030, the governorate has transitioned toward manufacturing and public-private partnerships while maintaining its status as the primary food basket of the Kingdom, yielding substantial volumes of vegetables, wheat, dates, and greenhouse produce.

Al Kharj is a governorate and city located within the Riyadh Region of Saudi Arabia. Positioned at coordinates 24.15541 latitude and 47.33457 longitude, the administrative area sits 83 kilometers southeast of the capital city and holds the second-largest population in the province, with a total population of 425,300 inhabitants.

Geographically, the territory functions as a vital agricultural, industrial, and logistical hub for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Historically a flourishing desert oasis fed by natural springs, the region features a unique geography that allows massive, climate-controlled farming models to thrive despite its arid environment. The terrain supports significant agricultural output, yielding more than 26% of the nation's total vegetable output alongside substantial volumes of wheat, dates, and greenhouse produce. Internationally recognized as the dairy capital of the Middle East, the geography of Al Kharj accommodates major agricultural conglomerates and processing bases, including Almarai, Al Safi Danone, Nadec, and ARASCO, which together produce over 65% of Saudi Arabia's national milk supply.

The geographical expanse also encompasses deep historical and archaeological dimensions across its districts and surrounding settlements. Located in the north of the city of Al Saih, the town of Al Yamama stands as one of the oldest towns in the Arabian Peninsula. Within its northeastern corner lies Al Banna, an ancient pre-Islamic settlement where pottery pieces indicate a human presence extending from the mid-third millennium BC. Further archaeological milestones in the region include sites uncovered by a Saudi-French archaeological mission in 2018 that date back approximately one hundred thousand years. Important structural landmarks tied to the area's geography and history include the King Abdulaziz Palace in the Al Aziziyah district of Al Saih City, built in 1359 AH (1940-1941 AD), and the Abu Jafan Palace, situated east of Al Saih City and established during the reign of King Abdulaziz in 1366 AH (1946-1947 AD) to serve travelers from eastern regions and pilgrims journeying to the Great Mosque of Mecca. Additional administrative and historical relevance is anchored by the nearby city of Dalam, which maintains a population of 35,800 and contains numerous archaeological monuments linked to historical conflicts.

Operating under the time zone Asia/Riyadh and utilizing the currency SAR, the area relies on local languages such as ar-SA. Local commercial and economic frameworks, private-sector integration, and logistical operations are driven locally by the Al Kharj Chamber of Commerce and Industry, established in 2005. Specialized educational backbones like the Food Industries Institute further support the regional workforce, maintaining the infrastructure required for the governorate's extensive agricultural and manufacturing networks.

For further geographical and spatial data, consult the GeoNames record for Al Kharj or review the comprehensive documentation found on Al-Kharj.