King Abdulaziz Air Base

King Abdulaziz Air Base
قاعدة الملك عبدالعزيز الجوية
Dhahran, Eastern Province in Saudi Arabia
Logo of King Abdulaziz Air Base
OEDR Location of King Abdulaziz Air Base Show map of Saudi Arabia OEDR OEDR (Persian Gulf) Show map of Persian Gulf
Coordinates	26°15′45.2″N 50°09′11.0″E / 26.262556°N 50.153056°E / 26.262556; 50.153056
Type	Air Force Base
Site information
Owner	Ministry of Defense
Controlled by	Royal Saudi Air Force
Open to the public	No
Condition	Active
Site history
Built	1961 (1961)
In use	1961-1999 1991-present
Garrison information
Current commander	AVM Prince Turki bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
Occupants	No. 13 Squadron No. 92 Squadron No. 44 Squadron No. 7 Squadron No. 35 Squadron No. 75 Squadron No. 83 Squadron
Airfield information
Identifiers	IATA: DHA, ICAO: OEDR
Elevation	746 ft (227 m) AMSL
Runways Direction Length and surface 16R/34L 3,660 metres (12,008 ft) Asphalt 16L/34R 3,600 metres (11,811 ft) Asphalt 06/24 2,150 metres (7,054 ft) Concrete

King Abdulaziz Air Base (Arabic: قاعدة الملك عبدالعزيز الجوية) (IATA: DHA, ICAO: OEDR), also known as Dhahran Air Base and formerly Dhahran International Airport, Dhahran Airport and Dhahran Airfield, is a Royal Saudi Air Force base located in Dhahran in the Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. Located west of Thuqbah and 7 km (4 mi) southeast of the Saudi Aramco Dhahran Camp, the airbase was the first Saudi Arabian airport to be constructed, in 1961, and is under the command of Air vice-marshal Prince Turki bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

The airbase was initially built and operated by the United States Air Force from 1945 until 1962 and was known as the Dhahran Airfield.^[1] After use by the USAF, it was converted for commercial use and was known as the Dhahran International Airport, and was shared with the King Abdulaziz Air Base of the Royal Saudi Air Force. The military relationship that exists today between the United States and Saudi Arabia was highly influenced by the origin and development of this airfield.

During its commercial use phase, from 1962 to 1999, it was one of Saudi Arabia's busiest passenger airports and was commemorated on the 2nd issue 5-riyal banknotes and the 3rd issue 1-riyal banknotes. After the completion and inauguration of the King Fahd International Airport further north, the airport lost its commercial status and once again reverted to military use only; albeit by the Royal Saudi Air Force, which still uses it today.