King Abdulaziz Air Base

King Abdulaziz Air Base, also known as Dhahran Air Base, is a Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) installation located in Dhahran, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. It is situated west of Thuqbah and 7 km southeast of the Saudi Aramco Dhahran Camp. Originally built and operated by the United States Air Force (USAF) as Dhahran Airfield between 1945 and 1962, the site was the first airport constructed in Saudi Arabia. Full ownership reverted to Saudi Arabia in 1948, though the USAF maintained usage rights through various lease agreements until 1962. Between 1962 and 1999, the facility functioned as Dhahran International Airport for commercial traffic while simultaneously hosting RSAF operations. Commercial status was terminated in 1999 following the opening of King Fahd International Airport, and the site returned to exclusive military use.

The base is operated by the RSAF under the Ministry of Defense and is commanded by Air Vice-Marshal Prince Turki bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. Its primary mission includes air defense, tactical and strategic support for the Eastern Province, and aviation-related technical training. RSAF 3 Wing is stationed at the base, hosting No. 13 Squadron with F-15C/D Eagle aircraft and No. 44 Squadron with Bell 412EP and AB412EP helicopters. RSAF 11 Wing is also present, consisting of No. 35 Squadron with British Aerospace Jetstream 31s, and No. 75 and No. 83 Squadrons operating the Panavia Tornado IDS. The Fighter Weapons School operates the Tornado IDS and F-15SA Strike Eagle. Other resident units include No. 7 and No. 92 Squadrons.

Infrastructure includes a terminal designed by Minoru Yamasaki, completed in 1961, which incorporates a flight control tower designed to resemble a minaret. The facility features a Royal Hall and specialized VIP lounges. While primarily a military installation, the base hosts VIP operations by Aviation-Link and NEXUS Flight Operations, utilizing Airbus A319 and Boeing 777-200 aircraft.

The base hosts the annual Exercise Spears of Victory, which provides training in air-ground, air superiority, and strike missions. Historical military operations include the deployment of USAF F-100 Super Sabres in 1963, RAF Panavia Tornado GR1s during the 1991 Gulf War, and USAF A-10 Thunderbolt IIs in 1994. The base also facilitated the evacuation of personnel from Yemen in 1994 and served as a relocation site during Operation Desert Focus in 1996.