Farasan Island

Farasan Island
Native name:
جزيرة فرسان
Al-Rifai House
Farasan Island
Geography
LocationRed Sea, Saudi Arabia
Coordinates16°42′21″N 41°59′0″E / 16.70583°N 41.98333°E / 16.70583; 41.98333
ArchipelagoFarasan Islands
Adjacent toRed Sea
Area380 km2 (150 sq mi)
Administration
Jazan Province
Demographics
Population20,000 (2010)
Additional information
Time zone
Area code017

Farasan Island, also known as Great Farasan Island, is the largest island and administrative centre of the Farasan Islands archipelago in the Red Sea. It lies about 50 km (31 mi) offshore from Jizan in southwestern Saudi Arabia. With an area of approximately 380 km2 (150 sq mi), it is the largest island in Saudi Arabia and the second-largest in the Red Sea after Dahlak Kebir.

The surrounding waters are part of the Farasan Islands Marine Sanctuary, established to protect the region’s marine and coastal biodiversity.