Al Uqayr

Al-Ahsa Governorate , Saudi Arabia

---

Al Uqayr, also known as Uqair, is a historic port town in the Al-Ahsa Governorate of Saudi Arabia, serving as a key gateway to the interior region from the Arabian Gulf. It was an important trading hub with its origins dating back over 4,500 years, functioning as a natural port and a strategic stop on trade routes connecting the Arabian Peninsula with neighboring regions.

The town gained political significance as the site of the 1922 Uqair Protocol meeting between British and Saudi leaders, which set the borders between Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Kuwait. Architecturally, it features well-preserved Ottoman-era buildings, including a fort, customs offices, warehouses, and marketplaces with distinctive columns made of coral stone.

Over time, its importance declined with the rise of modern ports like Dammam, but Uqair remains culturally important and is a protected archaeological and heritage site, also known for its scenic beach along the Arabian Gulf coastline.