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CULTURE & HERITAGE

7 museums to delve deep into Jazan's heritage

Embark on an awe-inspiring journey across Jazan's storied past through its array of captivating museums brimming with historic and cultural marvels that are sure to capture your imagination.

Words by Misbaah Mansuri

Having long stood at the crossroads of Roman, Phoenician, and Ottoman empires, the enchanting region of Jazan and its namesake capital port city have borne the influence of a myriad of cultures and have over time metamorphosed into a mosaic of historical wonder.

With each artefact and ruin offering a glimpse into bygone eras, the museums in Jazan don’t just recount history, they vividly bring it to life. They invite explorers to witness the culture and heritage that has shaped this timeless region that aims to look forward but without forgetting the rich history and culture that envelops it. You can spend hours marvelling at the sheer breath of the region’s visual history through its mesmerising museum spectacles which take the regions’ mystical allure to an altogether different level.

Dr Ali Mohammed Awaji Museum

Step into the renowned Dr. Ali Mohammed Awaji Museum, where the passion for Jazan’s history feels alive and palpable. A portal to the past, with items ranging from simple tools to intricate vases and pots, the museum embodies Dr. Awaji’s tireless dedication to preserving the region’s captivating heritage. Showcasing a collection that traverses over five millennia, each piece, whether a utilitarian craft or a precious manuscript, is carefully chosen to narrate Jazan’s rich history. It is the perfect space to discover the essence of daily life of the region alongside intellectual endeavours that have shaped Jazan through time that make it so special.

Ibrahim Moftah Museum

A reverent nod to the region’s multi-layered history, the Ibrahim Moftah Museum on Farasan Island was privately curated by the writer and historian himself. A trove of historical riches, it offers an enchanting journey through Jazan’s defining moments with records and artefacts that span ages. Here the artistic soul of the region is on full display with the museum showcasing a fascinating collection of traditional crafts, music, costumes, shedding light onto the narrative of Jazan’s cultural evolution. Each exhibit reverberates with the region’s dynamic heritage, reflecting the cultural vibrancy that has pulsed through the city for generations. Expect to leave with a sense of having walked alongside the many lives that once called Jazan home.

Bi’ir Museum

An ode to the agrarian spirit of Jazan, Bi’ir Museum celebrates the region’s relationship with the land, displaying tools and techniques that shaped the local agronomy, alongside an array of botanical specimens native to the area. Situated in the home of an owner passionate about his heritage, the museum offers a glimpse into the farming traditions that have long sustained the region, with an exhibit of age-old farming tools and methods. The collection of plant life indigenous to Jazan, a blend of family heirlooms and finds from the owner’s journeys, is a homage to the enduring bond between the land and its people.

Zayla’i Maritime Museum

Charting Jazan’s seafaring legacy, Zayla’i Maritime Museum on Farasan Island takes visitors through the exhilarating stories of the sailors and traders who plied the Red Sea. Considered to be one of the most important natural history museums in the region, it houses ancient dhows and time-worn navigation tools that captures the essence of Jazan’s rich nautical history. The museum also displays Jazan’s marine biodiversity, in all its glory, through an impressive collection of sea life, from the rarest seashells to diverse fish and turtles. Almost every key element that shaped Jazan’s identity as a pivotal maritime crossroads and legacy is proudly displayed here, all ready to regale visitors.

Mount Telan Museum

Perched amidst the other-worldly rugged beauty of Mount Telan, in Bani Malik, this museum is a homage to the natural and human history of the area. The space is renowned for its specialised collection, which encompassing everything from traditional coffee-making apparatus, culinary tools, home furnishings, crafted leather goods, and historical women’s attire, offers a vivid peek into the daily lives and crafts of the local ancestors, bridging the gap between the past and the present. Exhibits here span from ancient fossils to geological displays and the relics of human settlement, all of which mirror the captivating symbiotic relationship between the region’s earth and its cultures.

Alaliyah Museum

Championing Jazan’s riveting architectural and societal evolution, Alaliyah Museum displays a spectacular array of local attire and jewellery, painting a vivid picture of regional fashion trends over time. The owner has assembled substantial collections of artefacts for the museum with everything from everyday tools and crafts to weaponry, all exhibited in a historical sequence. Showcasing fascinating models of historical homes, the museum offers a window into the domestic lives of its inhabitants. With very careful reconstructions of these historic dwellings, the space breathes life into the stories of those who lived there. Capturing the essence of Jazan’s metamorphosis through its architecture and culture, the museum offers a tactile narrative of Jazan’s journey from past to present, told through the objects that shaped its daily life and conflicts.

Jazan Museum of Archaeology and Heritage

Guarding Jazan’s storied past, Jazan Museum of Archaeology and Heritage, located next to the archaeological site of Al-Adrasah, displays a wealth of archaeological finds, from Neolithic flints to Islamic currency and several other relics that narrate compelling sagas of the region. This museum which forms part of a network of museums established by the Ministry of Education houses a rich miscellany: aged maps, period photographs, an array of ornamental regalia, time-honoured weapons, evocative paintings, and script from antiquity, each piece encapsulating the cross-cultural influences that have shaped the region while reflecting the creativity that has thrived in this crossroads of civilisations.

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

With plenty of direct flight links from the UK to Saudi, it’s really easy to get to the country. 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 operates twice daily flights to Jeddah from London Heathrow and daily flights from 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 Riyadh is between October and March, when temperatures can dip as low as 20°C during the daytime and rarely exceed 30°C. Summer months in Riyadh can get extremely hot, with temperatures often above 40°C between June and September.

FAQ

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.