Farasan Islands

In the 1st century AD, the islands were known as Portus Ferresanus. A Latin inscription dating from 144 AD has been found on the island which attests to the construction of a Roman garrison.

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 AD^[4]. This fact would make the Farasan Islands the farthest Roman outpost, being nearly 4,000 km (2,500 mi) from Rome itself.^[5]

It remained this way up until the Arab Muslim conquest of the islands and subsequent Islamization.^[6]

The climate in the Farasan archipelago is characterised 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. 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.^[7]

 

The Farasan Island Marine Sanctuary is a protected area. It is home to the Arabian gazelle, and, in winter, migratory birds from Europe.^[8] Oceanic animals include manta rays,^[9] whale sharks,^[10] and several species of sea turtles including endangered and critically endangered green and hawksbill turtles, dugongs,^[9] and several species of dolphins and whales with occasional visits by others such as orcas.^{[11][12][13][14]}

After a French engineer investigated petroleum seeps on the islands in 1912, a 75-year concession was granted to the Red Sea oilfields.^[15] At the time, the Farasan Islands supported a small fishing industry.^[16]

Tourism and fishing also play a role in the economy. Farasan Island is connected to Jezan port by ferry.

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  Al-Rifai House
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  Al-Rifai House From the Inside
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  Details of Al-Rifai House in Farasan Islands
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  Ottoman fort in Farasan Islands
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  Al-Najdi Mosque in Farasan Islands
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  Farasan Islands Beach
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  Farasan Islands from the International Space Station
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  Ras Shada in Farasan Islands
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  Seagulls in Farasan Islands’ Beaches

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Farasan.

• Saudi Aramco World: Dreaming of Farasan
• Farasan Island, a diver's paradise Archived 2016-03-02 at the Wayback Machine, Splendid Arabia: A travel site with photos and routes