Located 40 kilometers off the coast of the southern province of Jizan, Farasan Islands is a group of coral islands in the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia, consisting of over 170 small islands. The protected area of the islands takes up a total area of 5,408 square kilometers.
While a number of civilizations, including the Romans and Ottomans, have marked their stay here, dating as early as the first millennium BC, the history of this island is not the main attraction. As of now, about 12,000 inhabitants live on the main island of Farasan.
Major attractions
Some of the largest islands in this group include Farasan al-Kabir, As-Saqid, Ad-Dissan, Zufaf, and Sasawah.
The major attraction of the Farasan Islands is their biodiversity. The islands house the endangered Arabian gazelle and migratory birds in the winter. They are particularly famous for their mangrove forests that serve as the breeding grounds for a number of birds. Some of the most exotic birds found on this island include the Pink-Backed Pelican, White-Eyed Gull, Red-Billed Tropic, Osprey, Crab Plover, Sooty Falcon, and flamingos.
The sea surrounding the islands houses a diverse range of marine life with a total of over 200 kinds of fish, 50 types of coral, and 3 species of dolphin. One of the most famous attractions of these islands is the parrotfish. The locals of the islands celebrate a festival in spring dedicated to this particular fish. Twice a day, a free ferry ride travels from Jizan Ports to the Farasan Islands, and experienced guides are there to help you explore these beautiful islands.
