King Fahad Dam

19°41′46.80″N 42°29′14.46″E / 19.6963333°N 42.4873500°E / 19.6963333; 42.4873500PurposeFlood control, municipal water, irrigation, groundwater rechargeConstruction began1986Opening date1996; 28 years ago (1996)Owner(s)Ministry of Water and ElectricityDam and spillwaysType of damGravityImpoundsWadi BishaHeight (foundation)103 m (338 ft)Height (thalweg)68 m (223 ft)Length507 m (1,663 ft)Width (crest)80 m (260 ft)Width (base)8 m (26 ft)Spillway typeOverflowSpillway capacity5,338 m³/s (188,500 cu ft/s)ReservoirTotal capacity325,000,000 m³ (263,000 acre⋅ft)Catchment area7,600 km² (2,900 sq mi)Maximum length18 km (11 mi)

The King Fahad Dam, previously known as Bisha Dam, is a gravity dam on Wadi Bisha about 35 km (22 mi) south of Bisha in the 'Asir Region of southwestern Saudi Arabia. The dam has many purposes , such as serving flood control, supplying water to nearby localities, irrigation and groundwater recharge, along with fish supply. A water treatment plant was built in conjunction with the dam and it can supply up to 40,000 m³ (1,400,000 cu ft) of water to the city of Bisha a day. The dam was constructed between 1986 and 1997. It is named after King Fahad and is managed the Ministry of Water and Electricity. At 103 m (338 ft) in height, it was the tallest dam in the country until the 106 m (348 ft) Baysh Dam was completed in 2009. King Fahad's reservoir still has the largest storage capacity, at 325,000,000 m³ (263,000 acre⋅ft).^[1]