Farasan Islands Marine Protected Archipelago

Lying forty kilometers off the southwestern coast of Jazan in the southern Red Sea, the Farasan Islands comprise a protected marine archipelago of eighty-four coral islands. Designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, this ecological wonderland is defined by uplifted fossil coral plateaus, dense coastal mangrove channels, and pristine white-sand sandbars surrounded by crystal-clear azure waters. Farasan is home to Saudi Arabia's largest population of the endangered Arabian gazelle (Idmi gazelle), which roam freely across the island plains. Its surrounding waters shelter critical breeding grounds for osprey, sooty falcons, pink flamingos, and green and hawksbill sea turtles, alongside manta rays and whale sharks. Culturally, the main island preserves the evocative coral-stone pearl diver settlement of Al-Qassar and the 19th-century merchant mansions of Beit Al-Rifai, adorned with intricate Ottoman-Arabesque stucco plasterwork. Farasan offers travelers a rare blend of untouched biodiversity and maritime heritage.