Farasan Islands

The Farasan Islands consist of nearly 200 islands and islets, most of which are coral islands, spread over a sea area of 1050  km² in the southeastern section of the Red Sea. Only three islands are inhabited: Great Farasan, Sajid, and Qummah.^[3] The remaining islands are uninhabited and include the pairs Saso Islands and Al-Dassan Islands, as well as Kirah, Zifaf, Dumsuk, Salubah, and Dushak, among others.

The archipelago is low lying, reaching a maximum height of 70 m above sea leve on Great Farasan Island. It consists of fossil-coral plateaux, coral-sand dunes and plains.^[4] The largest islands of the archipelago, Greater Farasan and Sajid, are linked by a bridge. A ferry service connects the islands to the mainland.^[5]

Farasan City contains archaeological sites and monuments including an Ottoman castle, historical decorated stucco buildings such as Al-Rifa'i House and Al-Najdi Mosque as well as boulders with Himyarite inscriptions and historical wells in the nearby wadi Matar.^[4]

In the 1st century CE, the islands were known as Portus Ferresanus. A Latin inscription dating from 144 CE, found on Great Farasan Island, points to a Roman naval and military presence on the islands.^[6] It is believed that the islands may have been attached to the Roman province of Arabia Felix, before being transferred to Aegyptus some time before 144 CE.^[7] This fact would make the Farasan Islands the farthest Roman outpost (until at least the 3rd century), being nearly 4,000 km (2,500 mi) from Rome itself.^[8] In addition, recent studies have found that the local language has some Latin loanwords.^[9] It remained this way up until the Arab Muslim conquest of the islands and subsequent Islamization.^[10]

The late medieval seafarer Ahmad ibn Majid gives evidence of availability of water, food and anchorages as well as routes past and around the archipelago.^[11] Egyptian Mamluks occupied the islands in the early 16th century, and the Ottomans at the beginning of the 20th century. The latter permitted the establishment of a German coaling station on Qummah Island.^[12]

In 1915, the Idrisids captured the islands from the Ottomans. In 1930, the islands were practically annexed by the Saudi State, confirmed by the Treaty of Taif in 1934.^[13]

Following their absorption into Saudi Arabia, the islands suffered economically from the collapse of the - already in medieval times attested^[9] - pearling industry in the 1930s and 1940s, but revived with the development of the country’s oil economy in later decades and tourism recently.^[14]

The climate in the Farasan Islands is characterized by a long hot season (April–October) and a short mild one (November–March). In the long dry period, high temperatures are usually dominant. The mean annual temperature is 30 °C (86 °F; 303 K). Furthermore, the mean relative humidity in winter ranges from 70% to 80% and in summer between 65% and 78%. The highest rainfall occurs in April and the precipitation is generally unpredictable in the southern part of Red Sea.^[15]

The Farasan Island Marine Reserve is a protected area. It is home to the Arabian gazelle, and, in winter, migratory birds^[16] from Europe.^[17]

Oceanic animals include manta rays,^[18] whale sharks,^[19] and several species of sea turtles including endangered and critically endangered green and hawksbill turtles, dugongs,^[18] and several species of dolphins and whales with occasional visits by others such as orcas.^[20][21][22]

After a French engineer investigated petroleum seeps on the islands in 1912, a 75-year concession was granted to the Red Sea oilfields.^[23] At the time, the Farasan Islands supported a small fishing industry.^[24]

• 
  Al-Rifai House built in traditional Farasani architecture
• 
  Al-Najdi Mosque in Farsan City
• 
  Ottoman fort on Great Farasan Island
• 
  Bait al-Jarmal on Qummah Island
• 
  Ras Shada in Farasan Islands
• 
  Al-Qandal Forest, Great Farasan Island
• 
  Dumsuk Island

• List of islands of Saudi Arabia
• List of governorates of Saudi Arabia