See also: List of World Heritage sites in Saudi Arabia.
| Farasan Islands | |
| Country Largest City: | Farasan |
| Postal Code: | 88XXX |
| Utc Offset: | +3 |
| Timezone: | AST |
| Country Admin Divisions Title 1: | Governorate |
| Island Type: | Coral |
| Country Largest City Type: | city |
| Country Admin Divisions: | Jazan Province |
| Country Admin Divisions Title: | Province |
| Governor: | Prince Musa bin Faisal Al Saud |
| Country: |  Saudi Arabia |
| Pushpin Map: | Saudi Arabia |
| Pushpin Label Position: | top |
| Pushpin Relief: | 1 |
| Image Caption: | Al-Rifai House built in traditional Farasani architecture |
| Native Name Lang: | ar |
| Total Islands: | 176 |
| Population Footnotes: | [1] |
| Population: | 13,529 |
| Population As Of: | 2022 |
The Farasan Islands (ar|جزر فرسان; transliterated:) are a small group of coral islands approximately 40 km off the coast of Jizan in the Red Sea, belonging to Saudi Arabia.[2]
The government provides free ferry rides twice a day to Farasan Islands from Jizan Port. The largest island of the archipelago is Farasan Island; others include Sajid Island and Zufaf Island. The islands are a popular tourist destination. In recent years the Saudi government has tried to increase the tourism quality and worth (as part of a larger tourism drive in the country) of the Islands in order to attract even more visitors.[3]
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 (until at least the third century), being nearly 4000km (2,000miles) from Rome itself[5]
It remained this way up until the Arab Muslim conquest of the islands and subsequent Islamization.[6] . Furthermore it is noteworthy to pinpoint that recent studies found that in the local language there are some loanwords from Latin.
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]
See also: List of protected areas of Saudi Arabia. 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, whale sharks,[9] and several species of sea turtles including endangered and critically endangered green and hawksbill turtles, dugongs,[10] 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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