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.{{cite web |title=New inscriptions from Saudi Arabia and the extent of Roman rule along the Red Sea |url=https://www.tabulae-geographicae.de/2017/03/31/new-inscriptions-from-saudi-arabia-and-the-extent-of-roman-rule-along-the-red-sea/ |date=March 31, 2017 |website=Tabulae Geographicae |access-date=May 6, 2017}}

This fact would make the Farasan Islands the farthest Roman outpost (until at least the third century), being nearly {{convert|4000|km|abbr=on}} from Rome itself[https://www.academia.edu/7784302/Fernhandel_und_Freundschaft._Zu_Formen_r%C3%B6mischer_Wirtschaftsf%C3%B6rderung_am_Roten_Meer_und_am_Indischen_Ozean_forthcoming_ "Amicitia" (friendship)]

It remained this way up until the Arab Muslim conquest of the islands and subsequent Islamization.Michael A. Speidel

Fernhandel und Freundschaft zu Roms "Amici" an den Handelsrouten nach

Südarabien und Indien ....p.155 ([https://www.academia.edu/7784302/Fernhandel_und_Freundschaft._Zu_Formen_r%C3%B6mischer_Wirtschaftsf%C3%B6rderung_am_Roten_Meer_und_am_Indischen_Ozean_forthcoming_]) Furthermore it is noteworthy to pinpoint that recent studies found that in the local language there are some loanwords from Latin.

Al-Najdi Mosque was constructed in 1929. It is one of the oldest worship sites on Farasan Island in the Jazan region, southwest of Saudi Arabia. The mosque originally took 13 years to build, and features paintings and inscriptions brought from India. The mosque is currently undergoing phase two restoration as part of the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Project for the Development of Historic Mosques.{{Cite web |date=2025-03-20 |title=Al-Najdi Mosque on Farasan Island undergoes phase two restoration in crown prince’s project |url=https://www.arabnews.pk/node/2594277/saudi-arabia |access-date=2025-03-20 |website=Arab News PK |language=en}}

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.{{Cite web|url=http://ffa.myspecies.info/node/8|title = The climate and the Farasan Archipelago topography | E-Flora of the Farasan archipelago}}

{{Weather box

| location = Farasan Islands

| metric first = yes

| single line = yes

| Jan high C = 30

| Feb high C = 31

| Mar high C = 33

| Apr high C = 35

| May high C = 37

| Jun high C = 39

| Jul high C = 40

| Aug high C = 39

| Sep high C = 38

| Oct high C = 36

| Nov high C = 34

| Dec high C = 31

| Jan mean C = 25.5

| Feb mean C = 26.5

| Mar mean C = 28

| Apr mean C = 30

| May mean C = 32

| Jun mean C = 34

| Jul mean C = 35

| Aug mean C = 34

| Sep mean C = 33

| Oct mean C = 30.5

| Nov mean C = 28.5

| Dec mean C = 26.5

| Jan low C = 21

| Feb low C = 22

| Mar low C = 23

| Apr low C = 25

| May low C = 27

| Jun low C = 29

| Jul low C = 30

| Aug low C = 29

| Sep low C = 28

| Oct low C = 25

| Nov low C = 23

| Dec low C = 22

| source = https://www.weather2travel.com/climate-guides/saudi-arabia/farasan-islands.php

}}

{{see also|List of protected areas of Saudi Arabia}}

File:Farasan Island 3.jpg

The Farasan Island Marine Sanctuary is a protected area. It is home to the Arabian gazelle, and, in winter, migratory birds from Europe.{{Cite web |url=http://colleges.jazanu.edu.sa/com/Pages/AboutJazan.aspx |title=JAZAN PROVINCE – General Information |access-date=2017-04-13 |archive-date=2017-08-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170820202703/http://colleges.jazanu.edu.sa/com/Pages/AboutJazan.aspx |url-status=dead }} Oceanic animals include manta rays, whale sharks,{{Cite web |url=http://www.arriyadh.com/Eng/Tourism/Left/KSAAttract/Jizan/Farasan-Islands.doc_cvt.htm |title=Farasan Islands |access-date=2017-04-13 |archive-date=2017-04-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170414082713/http://www.arriyadh.com/Eng/Tourism/Left/KSAAttract/Jizan/Farasan-Islands.doc_cvt.htm |url-status=dead }} and several species of sea turtles including endangered and critically endangered green and hawksbill turtles, dugongs,Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation. 2006. [https://www.livingoceansfoundation.org/science-diary-8-may-2006/ Science Diary – 8 May 2006]. Retrieved on April 14, 2017 and several species of dolphins and whales with occasional visits by others such as orcas.Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation. 2006. [https://www.livingoceansfoundation.org/science-diary-7-may-2006/ Science Diary – 7 May 2006]. Retrieved on April 14, 2017Hoyt E. 2012. Marine Protected Areas for Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises: A World Handbook for Cetacean Habitat Conservation and Planning. The Routledge. Retrieved on April 14, 2017Babbington J.. 2013. [http://www.birdsofsaudiarabia.com/2013/10/indo-pacific-bottlenose-dolphin.html Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin – Offshore Farasan Islands]. Birds of Saudi Arabia. Retrieved on April 14, 2017علي رويني 2.654.258. 2017. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cald7q3P8Ks ظهور الحوت القاتل في جزيرة فرسان - جزيرة سلوبه يعرف عنه اصطياد فرائسه من الشاطىء المقطع الاول]. YouTube. Retrieved on April 14, 2017

After a French engineer investigated petroleum seeps on the islands in 1912, a 75-year concession was granted to the Red Sea oilfields.{{cite book|last=Prothero|first=G.W.|title=Arabia|year=1920|publisher=H.M. Stationery Office|location=London|page=99|url=http://www.wdl.org/en/item/11767/view/1/99/}} At the time, the Farasan Islands supported a small fishing industry.{{cite book|last=Prothero|first=G.W.|title=Arabia|year=1920|publisher=H.M. Stationery Office|location=London|page=18|url=http://www.wdl.org/en/item/11767/view/1/18/}}

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

Image:Al-Rifai House Exterior.jpg|Al-Rifai House

Image:Al-Rifai House rom Interior.jpg|Al-Rifai House From the Inside

Image:Details of Al-Rifai house 2021.jpg|Details of Al-Rifai House in Farasan Islands

Image:Ottoman fort on Farasan Islands.jpg|Ottoman fort in Farasan Islands

Image:Al-Najdi Mosque 2021.jpg|Al-Najdi Mosque in Farasan Islands

Image:Farasan Islands.jpg|Farasan Islands Beach

Image:ISS-42 Red Sea in the Middle East.jpg|Farasan Islands from the International Space Station

File:Ras Shada ,Farsan Island راس شدا ,جزيرة فرسان - panoramio.jpg|Ras Shada in Farasan Islands

File:Farasan banks Saudi Arabia - panoramio.jpg|Seagulls in Farasan Islands’ Beaches

{{reflist}}

{{commons category|Farasan}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120716222418/http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/200001/dreaming.of.farasan.htm Saudi Aramco World: Dreaming of Farasan]
• [http://www.splendidarabia.com/destinations/jizan-province/farasan-island Farasan Island, a diver's paradise] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160302212850/http://www.splendidarabia.com/destinations/jizan-province/farasan-island |date=2016-03-02 }}, Splendid Arabia: A travel site with photos and routes

{{Islands of Saudi Arabia}}

__FORCETOC__

Category:Archipelagoes of the Indian Ocean

Category:Islands of the Red Sea

Category:Islands of Saudi Arabia

Category:Jizan Province

Category:Protected areas of Jazan Region