Why Yanbu on the Red Sea is fast becoming one of Saudi Arabia’s must-visit destinations

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Besides magnificent annual flower, bird and butterfly shows, the western Saudi town of Yanbu is attracting tourists with its rich biodiversity. (Shutterstock)
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Besides magnificent annual flower, bird and butterfly shows, the western Saudi town of Yanbu is attracting tourists with its rich biodiversity. (Shutterstock)
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Besides magnificent annual flower, bird and butterfly shows, the western Saudi town of Yanbu is attracting tourists with its rich biodiversity. (Shutterstock)
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Besides magnificent annual flower, bird and butterfly shows, the western Saudi town of Yanbu is attracting tourists with its rich biodiversity. (Shutterstock)
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Besides magnificent annual flower, bird and butterfly shows, the western Saudi town of Yanbu is attracting tourists with its rich biodiversity. (Shutterstock)
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Updated 13 May 2022
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Why Yanbu on the Red Sea is fast becoming one of Saudi Arabia’s must-visit destinations

  • Beyond its scenic charm, favorable climate and natural beauty, Yanbu has a particular appeal for history buffs
  • own’s historic architecture, including a house where T. E. Lawrence once lived, have been faithfully restored

DUBAI: Just a few hours’ drive west of Madinah is the historic port town of Yanbu, the second largest settlement on Saudi Arabia’s western Red Sea coast. With its curious heritage and growing wealth of attractions, this unassuming coastal gem is fast becoming a must-visit destination in its own right.

Visitors to Yanbu can traipse along the town’s historic harbor, enjoy Red Sea-caught fish prepared in the local style, and explore the recently restored Souq Al-Lail, or night market, where they can buy local dates, green mulukhiyah leaves, as well as other sweets and delicacies.

At night, the old harbor area comes alive with locals flocking to outdoor eateries overlooking the tranquil waters, protected from the waves by unspoilt coral reefs that have long lured divers to the coastline.




Yanbu's iconic lighthouse overlooking the town's coastal area by the Red Sea. (Shutterstock)

As one of the oldest ports on the Red Sea, Yanbu has a history reaching back at least 2,500 years, when it served as a crucial staging post on the ancient spice and incense route from Yemen to Egypt and onward to the wider Mediterranean.

Its strategic importance in the world of commerce continues to this day. Further south along the coast from the idyllic old town is an important petroleum shipping terminal that is home to three oil refineries, a plastics factory, and several other petrochemical plants.

While Yanbu has long enjoyed a reputation as a place of commerce, it is now developing into something of a tourism hotspot.




The market in the heritage village of Yanbu Al-Nakhl. (Shutterstock)

“In the past, most tourists were from Saudi Arabia, but now we are getting more foreigners, from France, Germany, and the UK,” Ghazi Al-Enezi, who runs the Riyadh-based operator Ghazi Tours, told Arab News.

“Yanbu has been receiving many visitors via cruises from Jeddah, cities in Egypt and Jordan.”

In 2014, Al-Enezi was named the Best Tour Guide in the Kingdom by the Saudi government. Since then, his fledgling operation has grown into a successful enterprise, with 12 members of staff operating tours across the country and a wealth of local and international clients.

The Kingdom’s growing tourism market has offered a boost to Yanbu’s hospitality industry, with the recent opening of a Novotel, a Holiday Inn, and the Al-Ahlam Tourism Resort. This in turn has drummed up new business for local cafes and restaurants.




Yanbu's nice weather make the coastal town a favorite escape during the summer months. (Shutterstock)

“Many hotels and restaurants are opening now, and local people are also trying to serve visitors their own local dishes,” said Al-Enezi. “The weather is nice as well. It doesn’t get too hot in the summer, which means during the hot months people can escape to Yanbu.”

Beyond its scenic charm, favorable climate and natural beauty, Yanbu also has a particular appeal for history buffs. The British army intelligence officer T.E. Lawrence, better known as Lawrence of Arabia, lived in Yanbu for a time between 1915 and 1916 in a typical Hijazi building.

The British archaeologist, diplomat and writer became famous for his role in the Arab Revolt and the Sinai and Palestine Campaign against the Ottoman Empire during the First World War.

Lawrence was deployed to the region to help the Arabs overthrow their Ottoman rulers, who had sided with Germany against Britain and France.




Lawrence of Arabia, left, and the renovated house in Yanbu where he lived between 1915 and 1916. (Getty Images)

On Dec. 1, 1916, the Ottoman forces of Fakhri Pasha launched a daring offensive against Yanbu with the aim of reestablishing control over the strategically vital port.

After some initial Ottoman successes, the Arabs counterattacked with the support of five British Royal Navy warships anchored off the coast. By Jan. 18, 1917, the Ottomans were in full retreat.

Yanbu served as a supply and operations base for Arab and British forces for the remainder of the war.




Yanbu industrial harbor. (Shutterstock)

In 1975, the Saudi government decided to transform Yanbu into one of the country’s two new industrial centers, the other being Jubail on the Arabian Gulf.

Since then, state and private development projects in Yanbu have boosted its economic value and prestige, attracting huge petrochemical and logistics infrastructure.

Today, as the Kingdom undergoes a fresh transformation, heralded by the Vision 2030 economic and social reform agenda, Yanbu’s fortunes are once again shifting — this time toward tourism, heritage and culture.

In 2020, the Ministry of Tourism launched a project to restore T.E. Lawrence’s Hejazi house, renovating its white stone walls and ornate wooden screens in what would become the first of the ministry’s efforts to revive the old town of Yanbu.




Heritage houses being restored in Yanbu. (Shutterstock)

Soon, other traditional Arabian homes followed, with sensitive restoration work launched to restore their coral-stone walls and wooden latticed windows to their former glory. The rebirth of Yanbu’s authentic architecture has made the city a highly desirable place to visit.

Since then, a host of tour operators have sprung up across Yanbu to cater for this recent influx of visitors.

Al-Enezi, who has run tours in Yanbu since 2008, offers a choice of two main tours — one along the coast that features a visit to Oyster Island, known for its pristine beaches and clear waters, and another into the urban heart of Yanbu that acquaints visitors with local heritage and crafts.




Ghazi Al-Enezi was named the Best Tour Guide in the Kingdom in 2014. (Supplied)

He also takes visitors to Umluj, which is situated 150 km north of Yanbu. Often referred to as the “Maldives of Saudi Arabia,” the coastal town is made up of more than 100 small islands where hotels and other attractions are now under construction.

Also outside the town, thrill-seeking visitors are drawn to Radwa Mount, with its red-hued jagged peaks towering some 2,282 meters above sea level, making it the highest point in the Al-Nakhil range.

Known for its rich biodiversity, including lynx, tigers, ibex and wolves, visitors can enjoy a safari tour along the rugged highland landscape and stop at high-altitude villages to sample the local honey.




Yanbu also boasts of attractive highland landscapes. (Shutterstock)

For Al-Enezi, the tourism industry in Yanbu is unrecognizable today from what passed for it when he began organizing tours there 14 years ago.

“It was hard for the few of us working in the business in the beginning because at that time the Saudi government wasn’t focused on tourism and not many people were coming to visit the Kingdom,” he told Arab News.

“But this is now a growing and changing business.”


‘Aramcorama’ at Ithra: A living archive of energy, culture, memory

‘Aramcorama’ exhibition at Ithra explores how the oil industry helped shape cities, communities and modern life in Saudi Arabia.
Updated 24 June 2025
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‘Aramcorama’ at Ithra: A living archive of energy, culture, memory

  • Exhibition showcases how ordinary items can help make extraordinary transformations

DHAHRAN: “Aramcorama,” within Ithra’s museum, reimagines the exhibition experience, turning the Kingdom’s industrial history into a personal and immersive journey.

Rather than simply documenting the rise of the country’s oil industry, the exhibition explores how it shaped cities, communities, and modern life.

The Aramcorama exhibition at Ithra explores how the oil industry helped shape cities, communities and modern life in Saudi Arabia. (AN photo)

It encourages visitors to reflect on how past events changed people’s sense of identity.

“Aramcorama” tells the story through a rich selection of visuals. Geological maps, handwritten notes, internal messages, and photographs trace nearly a century of growth and change.

HIGHLIGHTS

• At ‘Aramcorama’ exhibition, Geological maps, handwritten notes, internal messages, and photographs trace nearly a century of growth and change. 

• Visitors can explore how Aramco’s global outlook has influenced not only individual lives but also the nation’s perspective.

Visitors can explore a timeline highlighting each decade and framed by hanging prints and illuminated media displays. This setup creates an engaging environment that feels dynamic and full of discovery.

The Aramcorama exhibition at Ithra explores how the oil industry helped shape cities, communities and modern life in Saudi Arabia. (AN photo)

Abdullah Alshammasi, a longtime engineer at Aramco, spoke to Arab News about how the company influenced more than just the oil and gas industry and impacted generations of employees and locals.

He said: “The company certainly had lasting consequences on the earliest generations that worked in it.

Aramco’s history is the modern history of the communities that lived in the Eastern Province.

Abdullah Alshammasi, Aramco engineer

“The fact is, since the company was established it needed a knowledgeable workforce, so a campaign of education was also established, and it steadily increased in depth from manual skills to softer, more intellectual skills.”

The exhibition also showcases vintage safety posters that were originally used to display workplace rules. These posters show how design and language have changed over the years, highlighting the changes in style and communication.

The Aramcorama exhibition at Ithra explores how the oil industry helped shape cities, communities and modern life in Saudi Arabia. (AN photo)

This section of the exhibition captures the story’s understated honesty, letting ordinary items like posters, letters, and tools tell the story of values, habits, and shifting responsibilities.

As visitors explore the exhibition, they can see how the company’s global outlook has influenced not only individual lives but also the nation’s perspective.

Alshammasi explained: “Generations have now been everywhere around the globe, studying at the best institutions, bringing back with them a better sense of the world, widening their horizons and, therefore, our societies and culture.”

“Aramcorama” ultimately reflects how modern Saudi society was built; not just through buildings and oil fields, but also through education, progress, and mindset.

Alshammasi said: “It tells me that Aramco is as old as our modern lives.”

This fact is especially evident in the Eastern Province, where the company’s presence reshaped daily life, and Alshammasi added: “Aramco’s history is the modern history of the communities that lived in the Eastern Province. Their lives were directly affected by the company, for good and for ill.”

The exhibition does not hide that tension, but invites reflection on both progress and its costs, what was gained and what may have been lost.

“Aramcorama” does not ask visitors to celebrate or criticize, but to notice, reflect, and form their own opinions.

It respects the complexity of history and shows how innovation, labor, infrastructure, and community are all deeply connected.

 


Saudi crown prince and Iranian president discuss Iran-Israel ceasefire deal

Updated 24 June 2025
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Saudi crown prince and Iranian president discuss Iran-Israel ceasefire deal

  • Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman expresses hope the truce will restore security and stability in the region and prevent further confrontation
  • Prince Mohammed receives calls from prime ministers of Iraq and Pakistan

RIYADH: During a telephone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcomed the ceasefire agreement between Iran and Israel.

The prince expressed the Kingdom’s hope that the truce would help restore security and stability in the region and prevent the risk of further confrontation, the Saudi Press Agency reported. He underscored Saudi Arabia’s consistent position in support of diplomatic dialogue as the preferred path for the resolution of disputes.

The pause in the conflict between Israel and Iran, which began on June 13, was announced hours after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched missile strikes on Monday that targeted Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest US military installation in the Middle East.

In the aftermath of the attack, the crown prince spoke with Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s solidarity with the country, and strongly condemned what he described as Iran’s “unjustified and blatant aggression” against the Gulf state.

The crown prince also received a phone call from Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani on Tuesday. Both leaders welcomed the entry into force of the ceasefire agreement and stressed the need to exert necessary efforts to preserve security and stability.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the crown prince held a similar phone call. 


Saudi FM takes part in emergency meeting of GCC foreign ministers

The foreign ministers of Gulf Cooperation Council countries pose for a family photo in Doha. (@KSAMOFA)
Updated 24 June 2025
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Saudi FM takes part in emergency meeting of GCC foreign ministers

  • Session convened to discuss Monday’s Iranian missile attack on US base in Qatar

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan participated in an emergency meeting of Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers on Tuesday, the Kingdom’s Foreign Ministry reported.

The meeting discussed Iranian aggression against Qatar, developments in the region, and their security repercussions.

It came a day after Iranian missiles targeted the American military base Al-Udeid near Doha.

Prince Faisal and his counterparts from the GCC were also received by the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan shakes hands with the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani. (@KSAMOFA)

During their meeting, GCC countries affirmed their solidarity with Qatar and condemned Iranian aggression on its territory.

They said the attack constitutes a flagrant violation of international law and the principles of good neighborliness, and is unacceptable and cannot be justified under any circumstances.

The progress of joint Gulf action, fruitful cooperation and coordination between its countries, and ways to advance it to benefit its peoples were also discussed.


Saudi cookbooks for kids win ‘Best in World’ Gourmand award

Updated 24 June 2025
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Saudi cookbooks for kids win ‘Best in World’ Gourmand award

  • ‘Aklana’s’ 13 volumes document Saudi culinary and cultural traditions
  • Building a ‘golden age’ of literature for kids, publisher tells Arab News

JEDDAH: A children’s cookbook showcasing Saudi Arabia’s rich culinary heritage has won one of the world’s top awards.

Layal Idriss received the 2024 “Best in the World” Gourmand Cookbook Award in Cascais, Portugal, recently for her work as the creative director, publisher, and visual storyteller behind the “Aklana” book series.

The series is an ambitious project documenting the Kingdom’s culinary culture for children.

Speaking to Arab News, Idriss described the award moment as “truly overwhelming.”

The co-founder of Dar Waraqa and Radish House Agency added: “I was honored to be invited to speak on the Gourmand stage about ‘Aklana’ from Saudi Books, highlighting Saudi culinary food and culture.

“To stand there, representing a project that is so dear to my heart, filled me with immense gratitude.”

The “Aklana” series, created in collaboration with the Saudi Ministry of Culture’s Culinary Arts Commission and published by Dar Waraqa, comprises 13 individually designed books, each dedicated to one of the Kingdom’s provinces.

The series was envisioned as a “holistic cultural journey” for children, designed to inform and delight local and global readers alike.

Idriss explained that “with every dot we put on paper, we recognized that we were serving a global readership.”

To ensure international accessibility, the books were translated into English, Chinese, Korean and Japanese.

In her role as creative director, she led a team of four to five artists per book, each handpicked to reflect the cultural tone and visual storytelling of the region they depicted.

“The goal was not just beautiful illustrations, but visuals that truly captured the essence of the narrative and cultural elements,” she said.

Ensuring artistic and editorial cohesion across all 13 volumes was no small feat: “Directing multiple artists while maintaining a unified look and feel was a complex yet rewarding challenge.

“From initial sketches to final production, I oversaw every step to guarantee consistency in design and storytelling.”

Alongside project manager Mohammed Hasanain, Idriss also prioritized premium production quality.

She said: “We focused on high-quality production from illustrations to paper believing that a beautifully made book serves as the best messenger for a vibrant culture.”

Speaking about what sets “Aklana” apart globally, Idriss highlighted its unique fusion of cultural depth, educational content and visual excellence.

Each book explores not only food but also local traditions, celebrations and natural resources.

“Many cultural cookbooks might offer recipes, but few delve so comprehensively into the lifestyle, celebrations, and natural resources tied to the food presented through such a rich and consistently high-quality visual narrative,” she said.

For Idriss, this award is validation of a lifelong mission.

“Personally, this award is an incredibly encouraging milestone. I’ve devoted my life to bookmaking with a clear vision: to contribute to building the golden age of children’s literature in Saudi Arabia,” she said.

While “Aklana” focuses on culinary heritage, Idriss believes the same level of dedication must extend to all genres of children’s literature in the Kingdom.

“The underlying passion for creating meaningful and beautifully crafted books remains the same,” she added.

The Gourmand World Cookbook Awards receive submissions from more than 221 countries and regions.

Every year, the awards ceremony is held in a location known for its gastronomic heritage, attracting publishers, chefs, authors, and journalists from across the globe.

With “Aklana” now part of both the Saudi and global culinary conversation, Idriss hopes it will spark a new wave of culturally grounded publishing initiatives across the Arab world.

“‘Aklana’s’ success provides a strong model. We hope it inspires future projects in the Kingdom and across the region to delve deeper into cultural exploration, setting new benchmarks for quality in publishing.

“We’re committed to continuing this journey, sharing our books globally, as we believe they are vital cultural messengers.”


King Abdulaziz Foundation launches Darah Documents initiative for greater accessibility to records

Updated 24 June 2025
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King Abdulaziz Foundation launches Darah Documents initiative for greater accessibility to records

  • Initiative seeks to connect new generations with their heritage and enhance the role of historic documents as primary sources for helping to understand Kingdom’s past
  • Darah Documents features a digital system that supports browsing and advanced search capabilities

RIYADH: The King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives has unveiled the Darah Documents initiative, a project designed to broaden public access to Saudi Arabia’s historic records and deepen national awareness of their significance.

The initiative, which was launched on Monday, seeks to connect new generations with their heritage and enhance the role of historic documents as primary sources for helping to understand the Kingdom’s past.

Darah spokesperson Sultan Al-Owairdi told Arab News that the foundation is using technology such as artificial intelligence to modernize archival access. 

He said that "automated indexing of historical materials using Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and text analysis technologies contributes to reducing human effort and accelerating accessibility." 

Additional enhancements include AI-powered search tools, contextual linking of historical landmarks, and real-time multilingual translations to broaden global reach. Al-Owairdi further emphasized youth engagement, stating: "Darah is implementing several programs and activities connected to the initiative, targeting young people specifically." 

These include training workshops, field visits, and expert dialogues designed to simplify historical concepts in contemporary formats. The foundation also leverages "simplified and appealing digital content that aligns with the interests of the younger generation," encouraging creative contributions to national memory preservation. 

At the heart of the initiative is a digital portal and beneficiary services center, which together offer researchers, historians and interested individuals streamlined access to a diverse range of archival materials.

These collections span local and foreign documents, manuscripts, photographs, oral histories and more, covering topics from politics and the economy to society, culture and education.

Darah Documents features a digital system that supports browsing and advanced search capabilities. Users can request documents electronically or explore them directly at the beneficiary services center.

The platform also provides descriptive information and translations for non-Arabic content, making the archives more accessible to a broader audience.

As a nationally recognized authority on historic preservation, the foundation is committed to collecting, organizing, cataloging and digitizing documents according to rigorous scientific and archival standards.

This phased initiative includes ongoing indexing and the release of high-value historic records, ensuring their preservation and optimal use for research and cultural enrichment.

Aligned with Saudi Vision 2030, Darah Documents reinforces national identity and supports the Kingdom’s digital and knowledge transformation by making historic content more widely available.