agriculture (2)

Jizan is a port city located in the Southwest corner of Saudi Arabia. Surrounded by rich planes, forests and mountains, Jizan is one of the Kingdom's richest agricultural regions. Coffee, grains and many varieties of tropical fruits are locally grown.
 
Off the coast of Jizan, clusters of scattered islands bear the silent traces of the ancient church. The crumbling ruins of old churches are still visible on some of the islands.
 
The economic downturn in Saudi Arabia has greatly affected the region, and has set back many large scale development projects previously planned by the city. 
 
Prayer Points
  • Pray a blessing for the Jizani people, that they would have their physical needs met and that they would have a spiritual hunger to know God through Jesus Christ.
  • Pray that a new generation of Jesus followers will rise up out of the foundations of the ancient church to bring Him unique worship from this land.
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PTAP: City Focus: Dhaid, UAE

Dhaid is an oasis town in the UAE.  It is what a typical city might look like in the United Arab Emirates if oil wealth had not radically changed the country.  This city does not boast any massive skyscrapers like its neighbors Dubai and Abu Dhabi, but is a desert city with some agriculture and many date palms.
                                        
Throughout history, the nomadic Bedouin tribes would pass through Dhaid because there was fresh drinking water and beautiful oases. Desert cities like this need life-giving water. Because of city growth and the expansion of agriculture, much of the ground water is drying up.
 
In the past, this was a political center for certain Bedouin tribes.  The Kitbi tribe is prominent in Dhaid.  This is the tribe of Fatima Mubarak al-Kitbi, the "Mother of the Emirates," the third wife of the founder of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed. 
 
The city is expanding and more industry is being developed here.  However, some of the locals are still Bedouin in their thinking and like to be in the desert with their camels.  

Prayer Points:
  1. Pray that the Lord of the Harvest, Jesus Christ, will send workers into Dhaid and the surrounding area to be witnesses for Him.
  2. Jesus Christ is the living water and the bread of life.  Pray that Emiratis in Dhaid will come to Him as the giver of living water and eternal life and be satisfied in Him alone. 
  3. Pray that the Kitbi tribe would come to know the Lord Jesus and use its influence to lead others into His Kingdom.  Pray that they would be known as an Emirati tribe that follows Jesus Christ! 
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