Dams in Saudi Arabia: Types

and Functions
Faisal Fahad Al Harbi
Majid Mufleh Al Motairi
Hamad Al Mzroui
Mulfi Mshej Al Otaibi

Civil and Environmental Engineering Department

College of Engineering, Engineering Day
23 April 2013
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 Objectives
1. The objective of this project is introducing the
different types of dams in Saudi Arabia, their
advantages and disadvantages, choice of kinds of
dam, selection of dam sites, design principles,
forces acting, causes of failures and safety
measures.

1. Role of dams in regulating the amount of water

during the period of drought, flooding, and
protecting the infrastructures.
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 Significance to KSA
Kingdom worked to secure water from various
sources with conservation. One of the most
important of those resources in the Kingdom
is rainwater which runoff through valleys. To
conserve rainfall water, many dams were
built through the kingdom for different
purposes such as farms irrigation and
drinking water supply. Safe design of these
dams is very important, where the increase
in flood water may cause damage to them.

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 Description
Dams are constructed across water ways to
create artificial lakes or reservoirs.

Dams can be classified according to their use

(storage, diversion, detention), design
(gravity, arch, embankment, earth, rockfill),
or construction materials (rigid, buttress,
steel, non-rigid).

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 Description (Cont.)

Dams

Concrete
Fill Dams
Dams

Gravity Arch Buttress Rock F D Earth F D

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 Observations

There are more than 230 dams in Kingdom.

The following are examples of some dams in

Saudi Arabia.

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 Earth dam during the construction

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 Arch Dam

Gravity Dam

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 Ghat dam during rehabilitation

Majmaah Dam

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Thanks for your attentions

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