Jalu () is an oasis town in eastern Libya, located in the Al Wahat District within the historical region of Cyrenaica. It is one of the main oasis settlements in the Libyan Desert and has historically served as an important stop for trans-Saharan trade routes linking North Africa with Central Africa.
Jalu is known for its fertile oasis environment and extensive palm groves, making it one of the notable date-producing areas in Libya. The town also hosts the annual Jalu International Dates Festival.
The origin of the name "Jalu" is uncertain, and no widely accepted linguistic explanation exists.
Jalu has long been recognized as one of the oasis settlements that supported caravan routes across the Sahara Desert.
During the 19th and early 20th centuries, Jalu gained importance as a hub for organizing trade caravans connecting Cyrenaica and Tripoli with regions such as Chad, Sudan, and Egypt.
During the Italian occupation of Libya, Jalu supported the Libyan resistance led by Omar Mukhtar.
Jalu lies in the Libyan Desert in southeastern Libya and is characterized by sand dunes and fertile oasis land sustained by underground water sources.
Jalu is divided locally into four main districts:
The economy of Jalu is based on agriculture, especially date production, as well as local trade and services.
Football is the most popular sport in Jalu.
Notable clubs include:
Jalu has a hot desert climate (BWh), characterized by extremely hot summers and very low annual rainfall.