Qaruh Island

Qaruh is a very small sand and coral cay in southern Kuwaiti waters, a few hundred metres across with a lighthouse on it and reef running out from the shallows around it. It is the smallest of Kuwait's islands and one of the few places in the country's waters where coral is in reasonable condition. Turtles nest on the sand. Access is by permit and chartered boat and there is nothing on it.

Background

Qaruh takes its name from the large deposits of petroleum sediment in the area, which Arabic calls qar. It is the smallest of Kuwait's nine islands. It lies 37.5 kilometres off the mainland coast to the east, with Umm al Maradim 17 kilometres to the southwest. Roughly 275 metres long and 175 metres across at its widest point, the island has an area of about 3.5 hectares.

Source: Wikipedia, "Qaruh Island"

What's there

• The sand cay - a few hundred metres of island with nothing built.
• The lighthouse - the light standing on the cay.
• The reef - coral in reasonable condition around the shallows.
• The turtle nesting - the animals using the small beach.

When to go

November to March is the comfortable season with the clearest water. Turtle nesting runs around April to August. Summer heat is extreme.

What to expect

A permit is required and access is by chartered boat only. There is no shade, water or facility on the cay. Landing is restricted during turtle nesting.

Nearby

Umm Al Maradim is south, and Al Khiran is northwest.

Key facts