Al-Ahsa has been inhabited since prehistoric times, due to its abundance of water in an otherwise arid region Natural fresh-water springs have surfaced at oases in the region for millennia, encouraging human habitation and agricultural efforts (date palm cultivation especially) since prehistoric times. Recently, Al-Ahsa Oasis has nominated as one of the seven wonders of the world.
Its early history is similar to that of the eastern Arabian historical region of Bahrain. In 899 A.D., the region came under the control of the Qarmatian leader, Abu Tahir Al-Jannabi, and was declared independent from the Abbasid caliphate of Baghdad. Its capital was at al-Mu'miniya near modern Hofuf. In 1077, the Qarmatian state of Al-Ahsa was overthrown by the Uyunids. Al Ahsa subsequently fell under the rule of the Bahrani dynasty of the Usfurids, followed by their relatives, the Jabrids, who became one of the most formidable powers in the region, retaking the islands of Bahrain from the princes of Hormuz. The last Jabrid ruler of Bahrain was Muqrin ibn Zamil.
In 1521, the Portuguese Empire conquered the Awal Islands (the islands that comprise present day Bahrain) from the Jabrid ruler Migrin ibn Zamil, who fell strongly in battle. The Jabrids struggled to maintain their position on the mainland in the face of the Ottomans and their tribal allies, the Muntafiq. In 1550, Al-Ahsa and nearby Qatif came under suzerainty of the Ottoman Empire of Suleiman I. Al-Ahsa was nominally the Eyalet of Lahsa in the Ottoman administrative system, but in reality was usually only a vassal of the Porte. Qatif was later lost to the Portuguese.
The Ottomans were expelled from Al-Ahsa in 1670, and the region came under the rule of the chiefs of Banu Khalid tribe.
Al-Ahsa, along with Qatif, was incorporated into the Wahhabist First Saudi State in 1795, but returned to nominal Ottoman control in 1818 with an invasion ordered by Muhammad Ali of Egypt. The Banu Khalid were again
