Al-Jawf

Al-Jawf, town and oasis, northern Saudi Arabia. It lies at the northern edge of the Al-Nafūd desert near the source of the Wadi Al-Sirḥān. Formerly considered a part of the Jabal Shammar region, the oasis now lies within the northern reaches of the Hejaz. The town is strategically located on an ancient caravan route between the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean, and it has long been an important caravan stop between the Syrian Desert and the Arabian Peninsula. It is also an agricultural centre, producing dates, cereals, fruits, and vegetables. Pop. (2004 prelim.) 26,179.