Jizan, also spelled Jazan, Gizan or Gazan, is a port city and the capital of Jizan Region, which lies in the southwest corner of Saudi Arabia and directly north of the border with Yemen. Jazan City is situated on the coast of the Red Sea and serves a large agricultural heartland that has a population of 1.5 million, according to a 2010 census. As the city is the capital of the region, it has the regional airport as well as Jizan seaport. The area is noted for its high-quality production of tropical fruits like mango, figs, and papaya. Jazan has one of the largest mega projects market in the kingdom with significant infrastructure projects worth many billions of dollars. Saudi Aramco is building a 400,000 bpd refinery with associated terminal facilities on the Red Sea near Jazan, scheduled for completion in late 2018.
In the early 20th century, Jazan was a major site for pearl fishing. When World War I began, trade declined at Jazan, moving to Al Hudaydah. Today, ambitious projects in transport, renewable energy, tourism and agricultural development are taking place in Jazan region, particularly in Jazan Economic City, including a USD$3 Billion aluminium smelter. Jizan is being turned into Saudi Arabia's naval industry hub. Furthermore, the southern and western outskirts of the city are a place which the Kingdom wants to turn into its agricultural hub due to the water underground as well as the rich and diverse soil.
Jazan Refinery
Jazan Refinery is a megaproject project under the construction and owned by Saudi Aramco. The Refinery will process heavy and medium crude oil to create liquefied petroleum gas, sulfur, asphalt, benzene, and paraxylene. It is expected to produce 400,000 barrels per day.
Climate
Jazan has a hot desert climate with an average annual temperature above. The weather is very hot all year round and its average annual temperature is one of the hottest in the world, as daily lows average over and highs over even in the coldest month of the year. It is very humid but parched in some months, making the weather very volatile. Sandstorms are quite common in areas further from the sea. The highest recorded temperature was on 15 September 2006, while the lowest was on 7 February 1993.
