Sea – Saudi Arabia Tourism Guide

Al-Uqair

Sat, 26 Jun 2021 12:48:24 +0000

The gateway to Al-Ahsa from the Arabian Gulf

Located 70 kilometers from Al-Hofuf in the Al-Ahsa region, the port of Uqair is testimony to the historical importance of the area as a gateway to the Al-Ahsa region from the Arabian Gulf. If the currently visible remains are more than 300 years old and were built during the Ottoman period, the occupation of Al-Uqair Bay as a port dates back at least to the Islamic era.

View on the Arabian Gulf from the rooftop of the Uqair Fort (photo: Florent Egal)

The complex of Al-Uqair is organised in three main ensembles: the port, the fort, and the accommodation. Al-Uqair is also a beach located 25 kilometers north of the fort.

The port and warehouse

The facilities of the port are fenced but still clearly visible. They comprise the buildings that used to host the administration offices and the warehouse where goods were stored before being shipped out or sold to the nearby souq. The main building is finely decorated and is a good example of a mix Saudi and Ottoman architectural features.

Al-Uqair's old port facilities (photo: Florent Egal)

The old fort and souq

The main fortification of Al-Uqair comprises buildings for accommodation and offices and also a large courtyard that is accessible via a gate and a passage that runs through the main building. Once past this gate visitors discover the 120 by 55 meter large courtyard surrounded by the protective walls.

Al-Uqar Fort's courtyard (photo: Florent Egal)

Along the northwestern and northeastern walls are two ranges of columns where the shops of the old souq used to sell their products. The rooftop has today disappeared but dozens of columns still with capitals are create a beautiful gallery that helps the visitor imagine the merchants surrounded by their products, scents and spices of the orient.

Al-Uqair old market (photo: Florent Egal)

The accomodation

Built in the same compound than the fort is a series of rooms and a mosque where the inhabitants of Uqair fort used to live and pray. It is in this part of the complex that we find the most beautifully decorated features, with mouldings of Arabic and Ottoman styles. Some of the doors are even crowned by colourful stained glass that is quite rare in the Arabian Peninsula.

Mosque of the Al-'Uqair Fort (photo: Florent Egal)

Al-Uqair beach

25 kilometers north of the Fort is Al-Uqair beach that presents an usual feature with Colosseum-like modern constructions that were built on the beach just 100 meters from the sea. These structures offer viewpoints and much needed shade when temperatures rise above 40°C. Small concrete fancy structures are also built along the shore in order to provide shade and privacy to the visitors. It is important to remember that as per local regulations strict dressing code is expected, even on a public beach.

Al-Uqair beach (photo: Florent Egal)

How to visit Al-Uqair

The location of Al-Uqair is available on Google Maps under the name Al Uqayr. The access is only by road, mainly from Al-Hofuf and Dhahran.

Guides providing visits to Al-Uqair:

Tour Operators

Horizons Tours

The Horizons Tours "Saudi Desert Wanderers", certified by the Saudi Commission for

Yanbu

Sat, 08 May 2021 09:12:26 +0000

A port city that played a great role in History

Yanbu Al-Bahr, usually simply referred to as Yanbu, is a coastal town on the Red Sea, 300 kilometers north of the city of Jeddah and 140 km to the west of Madinah Al-Munawarah. Yanbu has benefited for millennia not only because of its location along the ancient maritime routes and as the natural port of the ancient oasis of Madinah but also from underground water available close to the surface. The beautiful style of old town Yanbu, which is being restored, testifies to the long human presence here.

Yanbu was a strategic location until recently as it served as a supply and operational base for Arab and British forces fighting the Ottoman Empire during World War I and saw the famous British army officer Thomas Edward Lawrence, also known as Lawrence of Arabia, living in the old town in 1915 and 1916.

House of T.E Lawrence (photo: Florent Egal)

Yanbu remained a small port town until 1975 when the Saudi government designated it as one of the country's two new industrial centers (the other being Al Jubayl on the Arabian Gulf). Since then, Yanbu Industrial City (Yanbu Al-Sina'iya) was created and large industrial petrochemical facilities were built along the shore.

A city with multiple faces

The Old Yanbu

If Jeddah is famous for its old town called Al-Balad it is not the only city in Saudi Arabia to host such a brilliant example of the unique Hejazi architecture style that is found along the Arabian coast of the Red Sea.

The old city of Yanbu, where restoration started in 2020, is another place where traditional Arabian houses that are made of coral stones and that feature rawashin (singular "roshan") - projecting latticed windows adorned with intricate wood works - can be admired.

Old Yanbu traditional house with Rawashin (photo: Florent Egal)

In old Yanbu visitors will find the same shaded narrow streets as in Jeddah and also an open square with an old mosque made of coral stones. The old market of the Old Yanbu is an indoor gallery that offers to visitors the authentic ambiance of the oriental souq while being protected from the sun.

Old mosque of Yanbu (photo: Florent Egal)

Old Souq of Yanbu (photo: Florent Egal)

On the sea side is a large esplanade where visitors can taste the delicious local specialties of sea food with fresh fish cooked and served with spiced rice.

Terrace with fish restaurants at the Old Yanbu (photo: Florent Egal)

The Old Yanbu has another secret: the house where Thomas E. Lawrence, also known as Lawrence of Arabia, lived between 1915 and 1916 when he supported the Great Arab Revolt. Old residents of Yanbu say the house has not been occupied since the departure of the famous British guest. Nobody dared to live in it even for one night because of rumors that evil spirits haunt the house.

Yanbu corniche

The city of Yanbu is split into two parts that are 20 kilometers away from each other. The northern part of the city hosts the old town and the southern one the industrial city. Modern resorts are found in the south, as well as the corniche were people can enjoy the view over the turquoise waters of the Red Sea and the green mangrove bushes grow along the shore.

It is also from there that people can enjoy a boat ride to some beautiful sand banks and coral reef islands that are paradise for beach lovers and scuba divers. It is important to notice that as per local custom it is not allowed to wear western style swimsuits on public beaches.

Yanbu Corniche (photo: Florent Egal)

Further south along the coast are the impressive facilities of the Yanbu Industrial City (Yanbu Al-Sina'iya) that are visible from the road but can't be visited.

How to visit Yanbu

The location of the city of Yanbu is available on Google Maps.

Yanbu is two and half hours from Madinah Al-Munawarah by road and has its own domestic airport, making it easily accessible from Riyadh.

Esplanade of the Old Yanbu (photo: Florent Egal)

Ras Al-Mashee – Safinat Haql

Sat, 01 Sep 2018 14:08:56 +0000

The Saudi Titanic in the Gulf of Aqabah

The Gulf of Aqabah offers stunning views along the 170 kilometers it stretches from Ras Al-Sheikh Hameed in the south to the city of Aqabah in the north. On both sides, turquoise waters host vibrant marine life, colorful corals and ornate white sandy beaches that lay at the foot of imposing mountains. In some areas the mountains fall directly into the sea like at Tayeb Ism. From the Saudi side the peaks of the Sinai Mountains in Egypt are just 25 kilometers away and their impressive sharp silhouette is clearly visible, as in Maqna.

But 50 kilometers south of the city of Haql, a unexpected manmade feature lays on the coral reef near the beach - a shipwreck whose front still protrudes from the water. Its name 'Georgios G' can nearly be distinguished on the side of the wreck from the shore, but it is also known among locals as the Saudi Titanic or simply as 'Safinat Haql' which stands for the 'boat of Haql' in Arabic.

Name of the Georgios G written on the side of the wreck (photo: Florent Egal)

There are many stories and fairy tales about the 'Georgios G' but here is what we know as fact: this vessel was built in England after the end of the Second World War, it was launched in 1958 as a cargo liner and at the time of its doomed trip it was carrying a cargo of flour and was owned by the Saudi businessman Amer Mohamad al Sanousi who had purchased the vessel shortly before the accident.

It remains unclear what caused its unfortunate fate. If the Gulf of Aqabah is often windy, not only does the wind usually blow north-south but also the Gulf is a narrow sea where waves don't get too big, so it is unlikely that a boat of this size was pushed towards the west until the shore by waves.

Secondly it is quite well known for millennia that the whole coast of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aqabah are populated by corals that have created thousands of kilometers of dangerous reefs that in some areas lay more than 20 kilometers from the land, so it would be surprising that the crew ignored this fact and believed it is safe to land there.

Also, the ship sunk 50 kilometers from any city so if it was a voluntary attempt to land it must have been because of an emergency.

Georgios G shipwreck (photo: Florent Egal)

Whatever happened that day of 1978, the 'Georgios G' ended up on the corals just 30 meters off a bay named Ras Al-Mashee that lays at the bottom of the Jebel Thaghb, a mountain that peaks at over 1900 meters. Shortly after the crash on the reef, the engine caught fire while the sailors were trying to restart it, giving the boat no chance to get out of trouble.

Saudi people at the Ras Al-Mashee bay (photo: Florent Egal)

For more than four decades the silhouette of the Georgios G has imposed itself as an unavoidable feature that is fully part of the landscape of the Saudi Arabian coast. Locals who want to go to the beach come to this spot to enjoy the special view of the shipwreck which also offers unforgettable snorkeling experiences. Some people climb on the wreck and jump into the water from it but we don't advise this because of the sharp rusty edges that can cause serious injury.

How to visit the Ras Al-Mashee

The location of the shipwreck is available on Google Maps under the name 'Georgios G Shipwreck'.

There is a road that runs all along the shore of the Gulf of Aqabah but the Ras Al-Mashee is accessible only from the north through the city of Haql as the road is blocked on the south at near Tayeb Ism.

There is a 400 meter drive on sand to reach the sea which may be feasible with a sedan car as the ground is quite firm but it is advisable to rather use a four-wheel-drive in case some parts are soft.

Swimming is only allowed from the beach in the dedicated areas that are indicated by signposts. It is permissible to swim and snorkel by the shipwreck, bearing in mind that the Saudi dress code applies even there, so it is better to go with a swimming suit.

Tours organizing trips in Haql

Horizons Tours

The Horizons Tours "Saudi Desert Wanderers", certified by the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Heritage (SCTH), specializes in unraveling the[...]

Ras Al-Sheikh Hameed

Sat, 17 Mar 2018 15:57:57 +0000

The western tip of Mainland Saudi

The Ras Al-Sheikh Hameed is a beautiful sandy cape located in Tabuk Province, at the junction between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba. The sand banks of the Ras Al-Sheikh Hameed used to be the westernmost point of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia until the cession of Tiran Islands by Egypt to Saudi Arabia in 2017. Thus it is today only the westernmost point of the Saudi Arabian mainland.

The sand banks of the Ras Al-Sheikh Hameed lie on coral reefs that are sometimes visible from the beach, especially on the western side of the sandy cape. They host an incredibly rich marine life which is not surprising as the world-famous diving town of Sharm Al-Sheikh in Egypt is just 30 kilometers away on the other side of the Strait of Tiran.

Sinai Mountains from the Ras Al-Sheikh Hameed (photo: Florent Egal)

The beaches of the Ras Al-Sheikh Hameed are not only beautiful by themselves but they also offer stunning viewpoints on the Sinai Mountains of Egypt that are just 10 kilometers to the west. From the Ras Al-Sheikh Hameed the sunsets above the edges of the Sinai that fall into the Red Sea are particularly stunning.

Sunset on the Sinai Mountains from the Ras Al-Sheikh Hameed (photo: Florent Egal)

The large bay on the south west has a peculiar sight, the wreckage of a PBY-5A Catalina, an American military seaplane from the 1930s. It has laid on the beach since 22^nd March 1960, when the retired American businessman Thomas Kendall landed near the Ras Al-Sheikh Hameed for a stopover during this trip around the world with his children and his secretary. They spent the night there but the next afternoon they were attacked with machine guns and automatic firearms by Bedouins who believed it was an actual military attack! Mr Kendall tried to start the Catalina but only succeeded to move it over about a kilometer where it ran aground on a coral reef. After more than 30 minutes of intense shooting (300 shots hit the aircraft!) and about 4000 liters of fuel poured into the Red Sea, the whole crew was captured by the Bedouins.

Catalina seaplane wreck (photo: Florent Egal)

They were brought to Jeddah but the damaged seaplane was abandoned on the beach, where it still lays but more and more damaged by the weather and people who dismantle it to take a souvenir (which shouldn’t be done of course!).

How to visit the Ras Al-Sheikh Hameed

The location of the Ras Al-Sheikh Hameed is available on Google Maps.

There is a road reaching the beach but of course the last hundred meters to the shore are on sand and therefore require preferably a 4x4, even if the ground is relatively firm along the tracks.

It is allowed to swim and camp along the beach but Border Guard that patrol day and night will check ID’s and may ask people to move to a place that is visible from the post guard.

If people want to swim they must first respect the dressing rule of Saudi Arabia and do it at their own risk as they are no life guards. The first hundred meters are usually very shallow but it is not advisable to swim far away from the shore because of the currents and winds.

The location of the Catalina seaplane is also available on Google Maps under the name "wreckage".

Catalina seaplane wreck (photo: Florent Egal)

Tour operators organizing trips of Ras Al-Sheikh Hamid

Horizons Tours

The Horizons Tours "Saudi Desert Wanderers", certified by the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Heritage (SCTH), specializes in unraveling the[...]

Tayeb Ism

Mon, 05 Mar 2018 10:11:03 +0000

The valley of Moses

Tayeb Al-Ism is one of the magical natural wonders of Saudi Arabia that takes visitors by surprise. This incredible natural feature of Tabuk Province is located on the Gulf of Aqaba, just 15 kilometers north of the coastal town of Maqna.

When approaching by the road that runs along the turquoise waters and white beaches of the Gulf of Aqaba, what strikes people first is the imposing shape of the 600-meter-high granite massif of the Tayeb Al-Ism, whose sharp edges fall into the Gulf of Aqaba.

Tayeb Al-Ism (photo: Florent Egal)

While getting closer to a nice little palm grove ornamenting the bottom of the cliffs, the mountain side that looks towards the Gulf suddenly reveals the stunningly high edges of a narrow canyon whose entrance is just few dozen meters from the sea. There the granite massif looks like it's been torn in two by a supranatural force.

Pedestrian bridge inside Tayeb Al-Ism (photo: Florent Egal)

The gravel of the first hundred meters of the canyon can be driven by car but some boulders don’t let cars get very far. A wooden bridge spanning the rocks allows pedestrians to carry on deeper into the meanders of this massive breach through the mountain. Some people even arrange to be picked up on the other side of the massif in order to enjoy the five kilometer hike to reach the other side.

The small river of Tayeb Al-Ism (photo: Florent Egal)

From the bridge the Tayeb Al-Ism visitors see another marvel, a small stream of crystal clear water than runs through the gravel all year long. As a result, the wadi hosts numerous palm trees and reeds that create little oases surrounding by the vertiginous sides of the canyon.

Oasis inside Tayeb Al-Ism (photo: Florent Egal)

Thanks to the shade and the fresh water the temperature inside the canyon is always more pleasant than few meters away thanks to shade from the sun and the evaporation from the warm sea.

The grandiosity of Tayeb Al-Ism has another dimension as it is directly related to religion. The territory bordering the eastern shore of the Gulf of Aqaba is the ancient land of Madyan (or Midian) whose capital was probably today’s city of Bada’ where monumental tombs were sculpted in the rock later by the Nabatean people. Madyan is the land where Moses spent ten years in voluntary exile after fleeing from Egypt. It is believed that when later Moses brought the people out of Egypt through the Red Sea they reached the land of Madyan at Tayeb Al-Ism, the reason why it is also called the Valley of Moses. For the same reason the wells of the nearby town of Maqna are called the Wells of Moses.

How to visit Tayeb Al-Ism

Tayeb Al-Ism is accessible by car but only from the south through the town of Maqna. It is forbidden to drive further north by the Red Sea so the southern access is the only one by road.

It is also possible to get close to the eastern entrance of the wadi by car but then it requires a five-kilometer hike to reach the Red Sea.

Tours operators organizing trips to Tayeb Ism

Horizons Tours

The Horizons Tours "Saudi Desert Wanderers", certified by the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Heritage (SCTH), specializes in unraveling the[...]

Maqna – Bir Sa’idani

Sun, 25 Feb 2018 10:11:57 +0000

The wells of Moses

Maqna is a charming coastal town located on the Gulf of Aqaba that faces Egypt and the Sinai mountains, clearly visible from it. But the town is famous for its wells that witnessed an important episode in the life of the Prophet Moses.

The territory bordering the eastern shore of the Gulf of Aqaba is the ancient land of Madyan (or Midian) whose capital was probably in today’s city of Al-Bada’, where monumental tombs were later sculpted by the Nabatean people. Madyan is the land where Moses spent ten years in voluntary exile after fleeing from Egypt following an altercation with an Egyptian that was beating an Israelite.

Gulf of Aqaba and Sinai Mountains seen from Bir Sa'idani aka Moses Wells (photo: Florent Egal)

It is believed that Moses crossed the Red Sea and arrived in Maqna and went to a well called Bir Al-Sa’idani to drink. There he saw two girls collecting water for their cattle and he offered to help. The girls reported this gentle move to their father, the prophet Shu’ayb, who went to meet Moses, recognized his pure soul, and decided to marry one of his daughters to him. Thus, Moses settled in Madyan and lived there for ten years with his wife and father-in-law.

Later when Moses brought the people out of Egypt through the Red Sea, they are supposed to have reached the land of Madyan at Tayeb Al-Ism which is located just 15 kilometers north of Maqna, and also bears witness to him, as it is called the Valley of Moses.

Bir Sa'idani aka Moses Wells (photo: Florent Egal)

During the first years of Islam an important event took place in Maqna as it was there the troops of the Prophet Mohammed signed a treaty with the people of Judham, the tribe controlling this area that converted to Islam.

Even today there is a well in Maqna where crystal clear water comes out of the ground in several places as if by magic. The well is surrounded by beautiful palm trees and its water runs downhill towards a lush palm grove. On the north of the well is an archeological site that is believed to date back to the early Islamic era.

As the well is located on a hill one kilometer away from the Gulf of Aqaba it offers a stunning viewpoint on the blue waters of the Gulf that separates the ancient land of Madyan from the impressive Sinai mountains that are visible from the well. The road that heads towards Tayeb Al-Ism and runs along the irregular hilly shore with beaches where the blue become turquoise is quite enchanting.

Stream coming from the well watering the palmgrove (photo: Florent Egal)

How to visit Maqna

Maqna is accessible by road and both locations of the town and the well of Bir Sa'idani are available on Google Maps. The wells are referenced as "Well of Moses".

Tour operators organizing trips to Maqna

Horizons Tours

The Horizons Tours "Saudi Desert Wanderers", certified by the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Heritage (SCTH), specializes in unraveling the[...]

Modern Jeddah – The Corniche

Sat, 26 Nov 2016 09:57:08 +0000

A dynamic Saudi city pleasant to live in

[…]

Farasan Islands

Wed, 14 Sep 2016 22:43:45 +0000

The jewel of the Red Sea

[…]

Sea – Saudi Arabia Tourism Guide

Al-Uqair

The gateway to Al-Ahsa from the Arabian Gulf

The port and warehouse

The old fort and souq

The accomodation

Al-Uqair beach

How to visit Al-Uqair

Horizons Tours

Yanbu

A port city that played a great role in History

A city with multiple faces

The Old Yanbu

Yanbu corniche

How to visit Yanbu

Ras Al-Mashee – Safinat Haql

The Saudi Titanic in the Gulf of Aqabah

​How to visit the Ras Al-Mashee

​Tours organizing trips in Haql

Ras Al-Sheikh Hameed

The western tip of Mainland Saudi

​How to visit the Ras Al-Sheikh Hameed

​Tour operators organizing trips of Ras Al-Sheikh Hamid

Tayeb Ism

The valley of Moses

How to visit Tayeb Al-Ism

​Tours operators organizing trips to Tayeb Ism

Maqna – Bir Sa’idani

The wells of Moses

How to visit Maqna

​Tour operators organizing trips to Maqna

Modern Jeddah – The Corniche

A dynamic Saudi city pleasant to live in

Farasan Islands

The jewel of the Red Sea

How to visit the Ras Al-Mashee

Tours organizing trips in Haql

How to visit the Ras Al-Sheikh Hameed

Tour operators organizing trips of Ras Al-Sheikh Hamid

Tours operators organizing trips to Tayeb Ism

Tour operators organizing trips to Maqna