Dhahran - Post Report Question and Answers
Are there personal security concerns to be aware of at this post? Please describe.
There's been an uptick in violence since 2014 related to attacks in Shia populated areas (Google "Qatif" and "Hasa" and "Hofuf"). There's also been incidents in KSA targeting expats. - Apr 2016
Yes. Numerous terrorist groups active in the area. Occasional threat of war. One of the housing compounds used by the USG was the site of deadly terrorist attack in 2007 (?) and Khobar Towers are nearby. In 2015 two bombings in the Shia neighborhood nearby occurred within the same week. Occasional attacks targeting Westerners (knife attack, shootings, etc). - Jul 2015
Normal concerns that go along with Middle Eastern posts - Jun 2015
Of course ... it's Saudi Arabia. Terrorism is always a concern although in the recent past, things have been pretty quiet on that front; needless to say, diplomats drive around in heavy (often armored) SUVs, vary the routes, times, etc. - Jan 2014
Possible terrorism. The last incident in this area, the Khobar Towers bombing, took place on June 25, 1996, and targeted U.S. Airmen, killing 19. Riyadh diplomatic quarters (4-5 hours drive away) were attacked November 8, 2003 (watch "The Kingdom"). - Oct 2012
Have you seen the movie The Kingdom? Just joking, currently we are a one-year high-threat unaccompanied post; but it's the safest one-year high-threat unaccompanied post I know of. There hasn't been a terrorist attack in the EP since 2004. Most of the American and other Western expats have returned with their families. The American school next door is full of students. We are currently required to travel almost everywhere in armored vehicles. - Apr 2008
