The Eastern Province is the most important industrial region of Saudi Arabia contributing 60% of GDP to the national economy. The province contains majority of the Kingdom's oil and gas reserves. It is also considered to be the most industrialized part of the Kingdom. More than 86% of Saudi basic industries are located in this province. Industrial areas in Dammam and Jubail demonstrate significant achievements and unique development in the entire region. Apart from the oil energy intensive industry, the Eastern Province is home to several other industries that consists of petrochemicals, chemicals, steel, cement, aluminum, plastics and service providing companies.

The Eastern Province includes several modern cities with distinctive features such as the capital city Dammam, Khobar, Dhahran, Jubail, Al-Ahsa, Ras Tanura, Khafji, Hafr Al-Batin, and Qatif. Each city is equipped with modern facilities and infrastructure that meets the essential needs of its citizens and residents.

With its strategic location in the Middle East, the presence of several energy intensive industries, and attractive incentives from the strong and visionary Saudi government, the Eastern Province provides a business-friendly and conducive environment for the investors to conduct their businesses.

Dammam is the sixth most populous city in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and is the capital of the Eastern Province. The governorate's judicial and administrative bodies are located in Dammam, in addition to the administrative offices of other sub-governmental departments operating within the Eastern Province.

Dammam is well known as a major administrative center for the Saudi oil industry. The city forms the heart of the Dammam metropolitan area, also known as the Greater Dammam area, which includes the "three cities" of Dammam, Dhahran, and Khobar.

Greater Dammam has an estimated population of 4,500,000 and is closely linked to the city through social, economic and cultural ties. The city is growing at a fast rate of 12% per year, the fastest in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the GCC countries and the Arab world. As of 2016, Greater Dammam is considered the fourth largest metropolitan area both by area and population in the GCC countries.

The Dammam metropolitan area and the rest of the Eastern Province are served by King Fahd International Airport (KFIA), which is the largest airport in the world by land area (about 780 km2). The King Abdul Aziz Seaport in Dammam is the largest on the Arabian Gulf and ranks second after the port of Jeddah in the MENA region.

Al Khobar is a city and governorate in the Eastern Province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, located on the coast of the Arabian Gulf. It is ranked 19th in terms of overall population in the Kingdom, its population is estimated at 170,000 people. Al-Khobar is part of the "Three Cities" area, or the Dammam metropolitan area, along with Dammam and Dhahran, and constitute the residential center of the region.

Al Khobar experienced rapid growth during and after the discovery of oil in Saudi Arabia as it served as a port for oil exports for Saudi Aramco in the company's early days. Traditionally, Al Khobar was also a city of shopkeepers and merchants. The city quickly transformed into a residential and a commercial and industrial hub.

Al Khobar is the newest city in the Dammam metropolitan area, facing the Arabian Gulf with a 16 km long Corniche Road, which is lined with many international and local chains of restaurants, cafes and boutiques of all kinds. It is a city with many centers of modern life and shopping malls, with some of the kingdom's largest malls. At night, Al Khobar turns into an active city. People from the neighboring GCC countries and the rest of the country visit the city for activities such as fishing, diving, water sports and shopping. It is also considered a resort city as the southern suburbs face Half Moon Bay and host many beaches and beach resorts.