A Sea of Coral Between Two Continents
The Red Sea is a narrow inlet of the Indian Ocean lying between Africa and Asia, running about 2,000 kilometres from the Suez Canal area in the north to the Bab-el-Mandeb strait in the south. It is known for exceptionally clear, warm water and some of the most diverse coral reefs in the world, which attract divers and snorkellers from across the globe. Its shores touch Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Eritrea and Yemen, and the combination of bright reefs against desert and mountain backdrops gives it a distinctive beauty.
The reefs are the main story. Fish species abound, with turtles, rays, reef sharks and dolphins regularly seen, and the sea's coral has a reputation for resilience. Whether snorkelling from a beach in Eilat at the northern tip of the Gulf of Aqaba or boarding a liveaboard in the south, visitors find water that is clear enough to enjoy from the surface. Many travellers describe the Red Sea as the place where desert silence and underwater colour meet.
New Island Resorts on the Saudi Coast
Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast has become a focus for ambitious new tourism. The Red Sea Global project, between Umluj and Al Wajh, covers a lagoon of more than 90 islands, many left undeveloped, with resort islands such as Sheybarah Island and Laheq Island designed around reef, sand and architecture that follows the landscape. The aim is a low-density, nature-led style of luxury, with wide beaches, dive sites and desert excursions within reach.
Elsewhere on the coast, Jeddah offers the urban face of the sea, with a UNESCO-listed old quarter, a long Corniche and fresh seafood, while AlUla makes a natural desert-to-sea pairing. Further afield, the wider region includes the neighbouring Gulf states, and a tourist board in the area could use the Red Sea as a unifying story, from marine nature to modern hospitality, across several countries and itineraries.
Read the full The Red Sea guide on Visit Travel Group, or see TheRedSea.co.uk on Visit Travel Group.