Al-Jahra, town and muḥāfaẓah (governorate) in central Kuwait. Located about 30 miles (50 km) west of Kuwait city, the oasis town is the capital of the governorate. It is the centre of the country’s principal agricultural region, producing primarily fruits and vegetables. Al-Jahra governorate is 4,315 square miles (11,176 square km) in area. Although it comprises about two-thirds of the area of Kuwait, most of the governorate is sparsely populated desert. Pop. (2005 prelim.) town, 28,387; governorate, 272,373.