Saudi Aramco has its headquarters in Dhahran, a major energy center in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province.
Dhahran developed around the discovery and production of petroleum in the region. Saudi Aramco’s history traces back to the California-Arabian Standard Oil Company, which received a concession in 1933; the company later became fully owned by the Saudi government.
Saudi Aramco is formally known as Saudi Arabian Oil Company. It operates across oil exploration, production, refining, chemicals, and energy-related activities, making it much more than a company that sells crude oil.
Riyadh is Saudi Arabia’s national political capital, while Dhahran is associated with the country’s petroleum industry and Saudi Aramco’s corporate center. That distinction is a common source of confusion when identifying the company’s headquarters.