On January 26, 1938, the Dammam No. 7 well — famously called the "Prosperity Well" — struck commercial oil near Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. This discovery marked the beginning of Saudi Arabia's rise as a global oil powerhouse and laid the groundwork for Saudi Aramco, now one of the world's largest energy companies.
The well initially produced around 1,500 barrels per day, a modest start that quickly grew as further drilling expanded the field. At the time, the population of Saudi Arabia was roughly 3 million, and the discovery signaled the start of rapid economic and infrastructural transformation fueled by oil.
The success of Dammam No. 7 not only attracted international investment but also positioned the Kingdom as a central player in the emerging global petroleum market, shaping energy geopolitics for decades to come.
