The Red Sea coast is over 1,700 km of Saudi shoreline with reefs that have had very few divers on them.
More than 90 islands lie off this coast, among them the Ummahat islands, Shura and Shebara. The reefs here have been outside mass tourism for decades, which is the whole proposition: coral in a condition that is now rare in the northern Red Sea.
Development is arriving deliberately and slowly along the central stretch. For now the coast is served from Jeddah in the south and Yanbu further north.
Getting there and when to go
Access is from Jeddah, Yanbu or Umluj depending on which stretch of coast you want.
What the tourism authority says
Cultural House in NajranThe Cultural House – Najran Public Library offers a comprehensive cultural experience that enriches the community with knowledge, nurtures skills, and celebrates national identity.