CULTURE & HISTORY
Discover the highlights of Yanbu
With remote mountain trails, traditional seafood dishes and constant investment in the restoration of heritage sites, Yanbu is a place for authentic immersion in Saudi culture...
Words by Eibhlis Gale-Coleman
Yanbu is a major port on the Red Sea with over 2,500 years of trading history. For centuries, traders drifted onto Yanbu’s shores to sell their goods in souqs, and today, tourists are just beginning to arrive to get a taste of its coastal culture.
Yanbu is a place for history, nature, and delicious seafood. The city is split into three distinct districts: oceanfront Yanbu Al Bahr, governmental Yanbu Al Sinaiyah, and agricultural Yanbu Al Nakhl. Each district offers a slightly different immersion into Saudi culture – luckily, you can combine the three. Here are just seven of its many unmissable highlights…
1
Enjoy the oasis of Yanbu Lake
Oases aren’t usually as luxurious as manicured Yanbu Lake. Underneath swaying palm trees, a network of spacious paths leads you around manmade lakes complete with fountains. Adults sit to picnic while families feed ducks along the waterfront, and at night, the whole scene is lit up by a special lighting system.
A morning walk around Yanbu Lake Park is ideal to gently whirr your day into action. Grab a takeout coffee from Mochachino and enjoy the fountain views. If you are fortunate, you might even spot the herons that sneak in to steal fish from the water.
2
Explore the past in Yanbu’s Old Town
Yanbu is full of history, but its Old Town is the epicentre of all its tales. Yanbu’s Old Town is over 2,500 years old and contains some of Saudi’s oldest souks and most traditional restaurants which have been recently renovated. Because of Yanbu’s trading history, the souks were the most important place in the city. You can take guided walking tours of the Old Town and its modern-day marketplaces or go it alone.
If you have time to venture out of Yanbu’s Old Town, Yanbu Al Nakhl offers a different side to the region’s history and landscape. Around 50km from the city centre, you’ll find Al Mubarack Historical Village, where Emir Faisal gathered his troops during the Arab revolt against the Turks in 1907. It’s also where he met T. E. Lawrence, also known as Lawrence of Arabia. It’s now in ruins but you can still get a sense of what this little village must have been like with its many date palm gardens. Al Jabriyah water spring is a delightful and relaxing place to wander among the many little canals that feed the palm gardens. If you’re lucky, you’ll also get to see roses flowering, too. A 40-minute drive from central Yanbu, it’s a winning historical detour.
3
Go diving in Sharm Yanbu Bay
The Red Sea is the pulse behind Yanbu’s lingering maritime culture and trading history, but also a beautiful area for coral reefs and marine life. Its colourful corals and clear waters have earned Yanbu the nickname the ‘Pearl of the Red Sea’. For scuba divers, Saudi does not get better than this. Yanbu is the country’s diving capital.
Divers come face-to-face with tropical fish, including squirrelfish, endangered Napolean fish, and larger residents like hammerhead sharks. Seven Sisters and Abu Galawa are the most picturesque natural coral reefs. However, Yanbu’s maritime history is never far away, and many artificial reefs can be credited to shipwrecks. The most famous wrecks are that of a Chinese tugboat sunk in 1947 and the British’ Iona’ wreck – whose demise remains a mystery.
4
Try the local seafood
Seafood is the be-all and end-all when it comes to Yanbu. You can’t miss out on such a massive slice of Yanbu’s culinary culture.
Shrimp Side is a trendy eatery with industrial chic décor, neon orange signposting, and Yanbu’s most varied seafood menu. For a cool experience, you can head to Shrimp Side to decide between lobster, crab, squid, and more. For a more traditional experience, Aljaddaf Resto offers grilled fish specials with patterned carpeted floors and low tables. While for a glitzy eatery, Al Marsah’s rooftop dining experience in the Yanbu Heritage Park is hard to resist.
5
Visit the home of Lawrence of Arabia
Lawrence of Arabia is among the most legendary figures in Saudi history. During WWI, Yanbu was a base in the Arab and British fight against the Ottoman Empire. British army officer Lawrence famously fought alongside Arab troops and lived in Yanbu between 1915 and 1916.
As of 2023, the House of Lawrence is still being renovated, with local tourism authorities planning to convert the crumbling building into a heritage site. However, it’s well worth visiting to experience from the outside. Next door stands the Home of Al Jabarti, an ancient guest house restored and converted into a museum in its original glory.
6
Stroll the waterfront
Yanbu’s waterfront stretches over 12km, hugging the Red Sea shorelines and Yanbu Industrial City. Walking any waterfront section involves al fresco restaurants and parks like Yanbu Cornishe, with its shading palm trees and odd beach hawker selling camel or horse rides. You’ll also find islands dotted at numerous intervals, connected to the mainland by bridges. While for a more sociable waterfront experience, you should prioritise a visit to Yanbu Heritage Park after 5pm. Yanbu’s waterfront is where to find the action – whether that’s a beach day, island venture, or night under the soft lights of the Heritage Park.
7
Hike Radwa Mount
Radwa Mount is an iconic red mountain standing over 2,282m high. In winter, it’s the preferred source of outdoor entertainment for anyone in the know, and its remoteness attracts the most adventurous of travellers. Even mobile phone signal struggles to find Radwa Mount; you’ll need your best navigational skills.
The trailhead to Radwa Mount summit starts on an unmarked road near a scattering of houses. You take a dusty, loose rock track to the top, passing the beautiful Talat Nazza spring and its historic well just before you hit the summit. If you can muster it, a sunrise at Radwa is magical.
Practical information
Visas
It’s surprisingly simple and easy to get an e-Visa for Saudi and the process is very similar to applying for an ESTA for the USA. Over 50 nationalities are eligible to apply for an e-Visa, including people from the UK and USA, with it costing (at the time of writing) 535 Saudi riyals (about £115 or US$143). Applications are swift and nearly all applicants will receive a response within three working days – most within 24 hours. To apply for your Saudi e-Visa, visit the official Saudi Tourism Authority website. If you’re from the USA, UK or the Schengen Area, you can also apply for a visa on arrival into Saudi. It’s slightly cheaper than an e-Visa, too, at SAR480 (about £102 or US$128).
Getting there & around
It’s really easy to get to Yanbu, with direct flights to Prince Abdul Mohsin Bin Abdulaziz Airport in Yanbu from both Riyadh (1 hour 45 mins) and Jeddah (1 hour). When you’re in Yanbu, the best and most flexible way to get around is by hiring a car or using ride-hailing apps like Uber and Careem. Getting to Saudi is easy from both the UK and USA, too. Saudi’s national airline SAUDIA flies to Riyadh three times daily from London Heathrow, while British Airways also offers a regular service from Heathrow with daily flights to the capital. SAUDIA also offers daily direct flights to Jeddah from both London Heathrow and London Gatwick. If you’re travelling from the US, SAUDIA offers direct flights to Riyadh from both New York City and Washington, D.C., as well as direct flights to Jeddah from New York City, Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles.
Local customs
To really embrace Saudi life and pay respect towards its traditions, there are a few local customs you should abide when travelling around the country. Both men and women should wear clothing that covers their elbows and below their knees when out in public. If you’re heading to the coast, it’s still expected you dress modestly. When meeting and greeting locals, whether it’s a market stallholder or a private guide, say hello with ‘salam alaykum’, which means ‘peace be upon you’, as well as offering a handshake.
Weather
You might think it’s hot all year round in Saudi but it’s a little more nuanced than that. The best time to visit the country is between October and March, when temperatures can dip as low as 20°C during the daytime, depending on where in the country you are, and rarely exceed 30°C. The summer months between June and September can get extremely hot, with temperatures often north of 40°C. But, do as the locals do and head out after dusk when it’s much cooler!
Is English spoken in Saudi?
Arabic is the official national language but English is widely spoken.
What is the currency of Saudi?
The currency of Saudi is the riyal, with the current rate (at the time of writing), around SAR4.76 to the UK£. You’ll need to pre-order money before you travel, as in the UK it’s not usually stocked in currency exchange booths.
What’s it like travelling in Saudi as a female?
We think you’d be surprised! To find out more, read our first-hand account on what it’s like to travel in Saudi.
What’s the time difference in Saudi?
Saudi follows Arabia Standard Time (GMT +3) all year round.
