Yanbu Al-Bahr Old Town

Yanbu Al-Bahr Old Town is the historic merchant quarter of Yanbu, the Red Sea port of Saudi Arabia's Al Madinah region, about 200 kilometres west of Madinah. Yanbu served for centuries as the port of Madinah, receiving pilgrims, grain and trade goods, and it prospered particularly in the Ottoman period from the 16th to the 19th centuries as a Red Sea trading hub. Merchants from Egypt, the Levant and the wider Indian Ocean traded here, and the town was also a gateway for goods bound for Madinah and Makkah. Yanbu is also associated in Islamic tradition with the early community, having lain on routes used in the early campaigns.

The old quarter is characterised by coral-stone houses with carved teak or other imported wooden roshan (projecting window screens) and doors, a style shared with Jeddah's historic district and other Hijazi ports. Buildings are tall and narrow, built with coral blocks cut from the reef and bonded with lime mortar, with internal courtyards and ventilation openings to catch sea breezes. Many houses were built by merchants, and their facades show the wealth of the trade. Some mosques and public buildings also survive within the quarter.

The quarter suffered from neglect during the twentieth century as the population moved to new districts and the industrial city of Yanbu grew nearby. Some houses are ruined or closed, while others have been restored by the municipality and heritage authorities. Conservation is partial, so the area combines restored buildings with unrestored lanes, and visitors should expect an atmospheric, lightly managed site rather than a museum.

The old town is free to visit and open all day. A walk through its lanes takes about an hour, and it can be combined with the Yanbu corniche and nearby beaches. Midday summer temperatures are high and humid, so early morning or evening is preferable. Interpretation is limited, so reading about the town's history in advance or hiring a local guide improves the experience.