Springs in Saudi Arabia

Abstract EN

Over hundred of years an appreciable number of springs have been known in the Arabian Peninsula on which ancient settlements, major towns, and villages were dependent for both domestic uses and irrigation purposes.

During the last two decades, water demand has increased dramatically due to the rapid economic development of the Kingdom.

As a result, the flow of most of the springs has decreased, even to the extent that some of them have be- come dry.

This paper deals with more than fifty springs located in different areas of the Kingdom, both on the Arabian Shield and the Arabian Shelf.

Based on the field observations and investiga- tions, springs were classified into five groups : alluvial, sub-basaltic, fracture, solution open- ings and inter-stratification-related springs.

The characteristics of each group has been sum- marized and discussed