Saudi Gazette report

 

BURAIDAH —  There are over 1,290 islands in the Kingdom that have not been invested in, said Dr. Abdullah Al-Masnad, associate professor of the Geography Department at Al-Qassim University, Al-Jazirah daily reported.



Eighty-nine percent of the islands can be found in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba and the remaining 11 percent in the Arabian Gulf. Farasan Islands, a large coral-island group in the Red Sea, are the largest in the country and their total area is similar to that of Riyadh.



“If 21 million Saudis decided to move to live on the Red Sea islands, they would discover that the islands can accommodate all of them,” Dr. Al-Masnad said.



Al-Baghla Island, part of the Farasan Islands archipelago, is the farthest from the coast. It is located 104 kilometers away while Al-Arabiya Island in the middle of the Arabian Gulf is the farthest island from the east coast.



Jabal Hassan Island, opposite to Umluj, is the best choice for any investor as it is close to the Gulf of Aqaba and enjoys a mild climate.



“Dubai government had to bury coral reefs and oyster beds to make tourist islands that were sold even before completion. We have more than 1,290 islands with untapped potential,” Dr. Al-Masnad said.



“Maritime tourism is important. None of our islands have a single palm tree or any tree for that matter. The Saudi Commission of Tourism and Antiquities does not provide much information about the islands nor any photographs or maps of them,” he added.