Tarout Island

Tarout Island is a Saudi island in Qatif Governorate in the Eastern Province, the fourth-largest island in the Arabian Gulf after Qeshm, Bubiyan and the Kingdom of Bahrain; some historians estimate its history at more than five thousand years BC, which makes it one of the oldest inhabited places in the Arabian Peninsula. [2] The island contains more than 11 heritage sites, and its most prominent landmarks are Tarout Castle and the town of Darin; its history extends back more than 5,000 years, and Darin Port was among the oldest ports in the region. [1]

The development direction for Darin and Tarout Island and its future initiatives was approved on 30 Rabi al-Akhir 1444 AH/24 November 2022, together with approval to establish the Darin and Tarout Island Development Foundation and to allocate an estimated budget of 2,644,000,000 riyals, over an area of 32 km² inhabited by 120,000 people. [1]

Tarout Island lies in Qatif Governorate in the Eastern Province. It is the fourth-largest island in the Arabian Gulf after Qeshm, Bubiyan and the Kingdom of Bahrain, and some historians estimate its history at more than five thousand years BC. [2]

On Darin and Tarout Island stands Tarout Castle amid a palm grove on the summit of a hill in the middle of the island, south-west of the old town in the east of the governorate, which is the highest of the elevations of Qatif Governorate. [2]

The history of Darin and Tarout Island goes back more than 5,000 years, and it contains more than 11 heritage sites. Darin Port was among the oldest ports in the region, as it was known as a seaport, an active market and a store for goods such as musk, perfumes, textiles and spices. [1]

The site of Tell Tarout is dated to the Early Dynastic II or III period up to the middle of the third millennium BC, and historians hold that the island was one of the most important centres of the Dilmun civilisation; the history of the tell on which the castle was built also goes back more than five thousand years. [2]

Tarout Castle is one of the most prominent landmarks of the island; it consists of four towers, three of which remain while one collapsed during a historic battle, and it is distinguished by its oval shape, which mirrors the natural terrain on which it was built. [2]

On 19 Rabi al-Akhir 1448 AH/30 September 2026, the Deputy Governor of the Eastern Province viewed an exhibition of the archaeological pieces discovered on Darin and Tarout Island as part of the work of the last two seasons of archaeological excavation carried out by the Heritage Commission. These pieces embody the civilisational depth of the island and date to periods extending from the middle of the third millennium BC to the early Islamic periods. [6]

Darin lies in the southern corner of Tarout Island; it was formerly a small island separate from the parent island and surrounded by shallow water, until the water channel separating it from Tarout was reclaimed in 1399 AH/1979. [2]

Darin was known for its seaport and its active market, and it was a store for the goods brought by ships and vessels, the most famous of which were musk, perfumes, spices and several kinds of fabrics, textiles and swords. The town was also the centre of the pearl trade in Qatif. [2]

Work began on 13 Jumada al-Akhirah 1442 AH/26 January 2021 to restore a historic house on Tarout Island, as part of plans to rehabilitate heritage sites in the cities and governorates of the Eastern Province. This was carried out in cooperation between the Eastern Province Municipality and the Eastern Province Development Authority to preserve heritage, strengthen the urban identity and give attention to distinctive historic sites. [3]

The archaeological buildings in the region were surveyed and found to number 124 urban heritage sites, 56 of which are available for investment, alongside other heritage sites in the region, the most prominent of which is the Al-Ahsa Oasis. [3]

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister announced on 30 Rabi al-Akhir 1444 AH/24 November 2022 the approval of the development direction for Darin and Tarout Island and the island's future initiatives, and the approval of the establishment of the Darin and Tarout Island Development Foundation, following a decision of the Council of Ministers. [1]

On 28 Rabi al-Akhir 1447 AH/20 October 2025, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Darin and Tarout Island Development Foundation and the Saudi Reef Academy to empower the island's farmers, fishermen and beekeepers and support them with knowledge and modern tools that ensure the sustainability of their resources and the growth of their income. [5]

It is expected that the development direction will contribute to the gross domestic product at an average of up to 297 million riyals annually, and raise the number of tourists to as many as 1.36 million tourists by 2030, while providing thousands of job opportunities. [1]

Up to 48% of the island's area has been allocated for public squares, gardens, waterfronts, roads and facilities, within more than 19 quality initiatives that include developing Tarout Castle and Darin Airport as heritage tourism destinations, holding cultural and heritage festivals, and creating pedestrian paths running through the island's heritage areas. [1]

On the environmental side, the development direction includes creating the largest mangrove forest on the shores of the Arabian Gulf and building a number of hotels and eco-lodges in the island's natural areas. [1]

On 4 Rabi al-Akhir 1448 AH/15 September 2026, memorandums of understanding were signed between the Darin and Tarout Island Development Foundation and the National Center for Environmental Compliance, the National Center for Wildlife and the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification, to protect the environment and its sustainability, develop vegetation cover and wildlife and raise the level of environmental compliance in the projects and activities on the island, similar to the protection enjoyed by other island environments in the Kingdom such as the Farasan Islands Reserve. [7]

The activities of the “Tarout Castle” initiative in its fourth edition were launched on 9 Ramadan 1446 AH/9 March 2025 in Qatif Governorate; it is organised by the Tarout Charitable Association in partnership with a number of government and civil bodies in the square of the archaeological Tarout Castle, with the participation of 150 male and female volunteers. [4] The initiative continues for nine days and includes a tourist path that lets visitors explore the castle and the archaeological sites around it in an attractive tourist setting, along with 112 varied corners, of which 10 are for craftspeople and 80 for productive families. [4]

Bostan Qasr Tarout, organised by the Eastern Province Municipality in partnership with the Tarout Charitable Association in the square of the historic Tarout Castle, drew more than 26,000 visitors from across the regions of the Kingdom during the first three days after its launch on 15 Ramadan 1443 AH/16 April 2022. [8]

Q: Where is Tarout Island located? A: It is located in Qatif Governorate in the Eastern Province, and it is the fourth-largest island in the Arabian Gulf after Qeshm, Bubiyan and the Kingdom of Bahrain. [2]

Q: What are the most prominent landmarks of Tarout Island? A: Tarout Castle and the town of Darin, alongside more than 11 heritage sites and Darin Port, which is one of the oldest ports in the region. [1][2]

Q: When was the development direction for Darin and Tarout Island approved? A: On 30 Rabi al-Akhir 1444 AH/24 November 2022, together with approval to establish the Darin and Tarout Island Development Foundation and to allocate an estimated budget of 2,644,000,000 riyals. [1]

Q: How many quality initiatives does the development direction include? A: More than 19 quality initiatives, including developing Tarout Castle and Darin Airport as heritage tourism destinations, holding cultural and heritage festivals, creating pedestrian paths running through the heritage areas, and creating the largest mangrove forest on the shores of the Arabian Gulf. [1]

Q: What are the tourism and economic development targets for the island? A: A contribution to the gross domestic product at an average of up to 297 million riyals annually, raising the number of tourists to as many as 1.36 million tourists by 2030, and allocating up to 48% of the island's area for public squares, gardens, waterfronts, roads and facilities. [1]