Al Udeid Air Base

Al-Udeid Air Base
قاعدة العديد الجوية
Near Doha, Al Rayyan in Qatar
A Qatar Emiri Air Force AW139 and a US Air Force B-1B Lancer on the flight-line at Al Udeid Air Base during 2016.
A Qatar Emiri Air Force AW139 and a US Air Force B-1B Lancer on the flight-line at Al Udeid Air Base during 2016.
Emblem of the Qatar Emiri Air Force
Al-Udeid AB is located in Qatar
Al-Udeid AB
Al-Udeid AB
Location in Qatar
Coordinates25°07′07″N 051°19′07″E / 25.11861°N 51.31861°E / 25.11861; 51.31861 (Al-Udeid Air Base)
TypeQatar Emiri Air Force base
Site information
OwnerQatar Armed Forces
OperatorQatar Emiri Air Force
United States Air Force
Royal Air Force
ConditionOperational
Site history
Built1996 (1996)
In use1996 – present
Garrison information
Garrison
Airfield information
IdentifiersIATA: XJD, ICAO: OTBH
Elevation40 metres (131 ft) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
16L/34R 3,750 metres (12,303 ft) Asphalt
16R/34L 3,750 metres (12,303 ft) 
Source: World Aero Data[1][2] and Google Maps[3]

Al Udeid Air Base (Arabic: قاعدة العديد الجوية) is one of two military bases southwest of Doha, Qatar, also known as Abu Nakhlah Airport (مطار أبو نخلة).

It houses the Qatar Emiri Air Force, United States Air Force, Royal Air Force, and other foreign forces. It is host to a forward headquarters of United States Central Command, headquarters of the United States Air Forces Central Command, No. 83 Expeditionary Air Group RAF, and the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing of the USAF.

In 1999, the then Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad,[4] told U.S. officials that he would like to see as many as 10,000 U.S. servicemen permanently stationed at Al Udeid.[citation needed] According to media reports in June 2017, the base hosted over 11,000 U.S. and U.S.-led anti-ISIL coalition forces and over 100 operational aircraft.[5]

It is the largest U.S. military base in the Middle East.[6]

  1. ^ Airport information for OTBH[usurped] from DAFIF (effective October 2006)
  2. ^ Airport information for IUD at Great Circle Mapper. Source: DAFIF (effective October 2006).
  3. ^ "Google Maps – Al Udeid Air Base". Google Maps. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  4. ^ "Embassy of Qatar – H.H. The Emir". Archived from the original on 29 January 2012. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  5. ^ US 'mystified' over Gulf states' position towards Qatar
  6. ^ "U.S. Bases in the Middle East".