Rafha governorate stands as a living witness to an important chapter in the development history of northern Saudi Arabia. The city's origins are tied to the famous "Tapline" oil pipeline, built in 1951, which stretched 1,648 kilometers from eastern Saudi Arabia to the port of Sidon in Lebanon, ranking it among the most notable engineering projects of the twentieth century.

The construction of the pumping station in Rafha drew Bedouin communities to settle and work there, and the city's features gradually began to take shape. It was known at the time as the "Pipeline Governorate" before taking on its current name. The pumping station building itself became a symbol of progress and modernity in that era.

Although most of the Tapline's installations were removed in 2008, its developmental legacy endured, having contributed to the rise of several cities and governorates along its route, including Arar, Rafha, Turaif, and Al-Uwayqilah.

Rafha is also home to a centuries-old civilizational and historical legacy, hosting notable pre-Islamic sites, most prominently the famous Darb Zubaydah pilgrimage route, along with historic villages such as Linah, Umm Radhmah, Loqa, and Zaballa. The remnants of the Tapline are considered part of the national industrial heritage: in 2020, the Heritage Commission designated it as the first Saudi site to be documented in the National Industrial Heritage Register, cementing its status as a witness to the industrial and economic development of northern Saudi Arabia.