al Hufuf

Hofuf (Arabic: اله�?و�?) is a common name for the major city also called Al-Hasa or Hassa in the Al-Hasa oasis in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. The city proper has a population of 287,841 (2004 census} and is part of a larger conurbation of around 600,000. Hofuf is the major cultural center for Shi'ite Islam in Saudi Arabia. The faculties of agriculture, veterinary medicine and animal resources for King Faisal University are located in the city (the others being in Dammam). The Hofuf campus also has facilities where Saudi women can study medicine, dentistry and home economics.