The Farasan Islands

The Farasan islands lie some forty kilometres off Jazan in the southern Red Sea, a group of low coral limestone islands protected as a reserve. They hold an endemic subspecies of Arabian gazelle, mangrove stands, and important seabird colonies including large numbers of sooty falcons and crab plovers. The parrotfish run each April, when shoals gather off the islands and a festival marks the catch. On the main island are Ottoman-period buildings and the Al Rifai house, a pearl merchant's residence with carved plaster decoration from the early twentieth century. Ferries run from Jazan and are free but must be booked, with limited sailings and vehicle space.

History

Known as Portus Ferresanus in the 1st century, the islands hold a Latin inscription of 144 CE that points to a Roman naval presence, perhaps the empire's farthest outpost. Pearling, recorded since medieval times, collapsed in the 1930s and 1940s, and the protected area became a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 2021 (Wikipedia, Farasan Islands).

What's there

• Farasan gazelle - the endemic subspecies on the main island.
• The Al Rifai house - the pearl merchant's decorated residence.
• Mangroves and reefs - the coastal habitats around the islands.
• The parrotfish run - the April gathering and its festival.

When to go

October to April for comfortable temperatures; summer in Jazan is extremely hot and humid. April for the parrotfish run. Ferry sailings are limited and fill, so booking ahead is necessary.

Good to know

The ferry takes around three hours each way with limited sailings, and vehicle space books out. Accommodation on the islands is basic and limited. Diving infrastructure is minimal. Modest dress applies, including on beaches.

Nearby

Jazan lies east on the mainland; the Fifa mountains are inland.

Key facts