- published: 11 Oct 2012
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Jazan (Arabic: جازان jazān), also spelled Jizan, 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. 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 2016.
The inhabitants of Jazan are Arab and almost entirely Sunni Muslim.
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