Ramadan On The Red Sea: Saudi Coastal Heritage Inspires Sustainable Tourism

The Red Sea is now central to Saudi Arabia’s cultural and tourism plans, especially during Ramadan. The Saudi Red Sea Authority (SRSA) oversees this long coastline, protecting its environment and organising sustainable coastal tourism so visitors and residents enjoy safe, well-managed beaches.

SRSA’s mandate covers preserving marine life, regulating tourist activities and supporting local communities along the shore. The authority aims to keep traditional practices alive while balancing growing tourism demand. This approach helps ensure that coastal customs remain part of daily life for future generations.

The Red Sea has long shaped the memories of people on Saudi Arabia’s western coast. Generations have viewed it as a constant companion to daily routines, work and worship. During Ramadan, this connection deepens, as spiritual practices blend with seafaring traditions and family gatherings.

When the Ramadan crescent appears, life along the coast changes rhythm. In fishing villages from Tabuk in the north to Jazan in the south, fishermen head out at dawn. They use wooden boats once called "sanbuk" and "shusha", relying on experience with winds, currents and seasons.

These fishing trips follow established seasonal patterns, including Jazan’s well-known Al-Kannah season. Catches from these journeys support local markets and Ramadan meals. The work links sea-based knowledge with religious observance, forming a shared heritage that coastal families pass down through stories and practice.

Historic Jeddah reflects another side of this Red Sea story. Old districts fill with the scent of traditional foods during Ramadan. Stalls appear beneath carved wooden windows called "Rawashin" and under latticed balconies, serving heritage dishes and drinks that have long marked the holy month.

With Saudi Arabia’s current development vision, such coastal scenes are treated as a living resource rather than nostalgia. Through SRSA’s efforts, the Red Sea’s cultural identity, spiritual atmosphere in Ramadan and unspoiled shores are protected, allowing communities and visitors to keep sharing this enduring coastal story.

With inputs from SPA