Ras Tanura is one of the most important industrial cities in the Eastern Province. It has the largest oil-exporting terminal in the Kingdom and a major oil refinery.Ras Tanura is considered the oldest refineries in Saudi Arabia.

The name Ras Tanura applies both to a gated Saudi Aramco employee compound (also referred to as "Najmah") and to an industrial area further out on the peninsula that serves as a major oil port and oil operations center for Saudi Aramco.

The city gained popularity for its well maintained cornice on its white-sand beach.