town, northeastern Sudan (Sudan, The). It lies on the right (east) bank of the Nile River at the mouth of the seasonal Atbara River. The junction of two major road and railway lines to Khartoum, it has become an important commercial and agricultural centre. The Sudan government railways' administrative headquarters and workshops are located there, and the town also has an airport. South of ʿAṭbarah is a large cement factory. Pop. (2000 est.) urban agglom., 100,000.