Jubail Industrial City is the world’s largest single industrial development project. Located in the Eastern Province, the city supports the development of energy-intensive industries and is close to economically important areas such as Ras Tanura, Ras al-Khair and Dammam.

The city covers 1,016 square kilometres and includes industrial complexes as well as major harbour and port facilities. It accounts for about 7 per cent of Saudi Arabia’s GDP.

Major industrial operations in the city include Sabic’s Al-Jubail Petrochemical Company, Arabian Petrochemical Company (Petrokemya) and Jubail United Petrochemical Company, as well as the Saudi Aramco Total Refining and Petrochemical Company (Satorp) refinery and the $20bn Sadara Chemical Company petrochemicals complex.

Development work at Jubail began in 1975. The project was managed by the US’ Bechtel, which also oversaw the subsequent $11bn expansion of the city and its residential areas. In June 2016, the firm signed a five-year extension with the Royal Commission to continue its services at Jubail. Work will focus on building residential accommodation and education facilities, along with roads, bridges, medical centres, and power and water facilities.