Beaches · Tabuk & the Red Sea
Gulf of Aqaba
خليج العقبة
Photo: Fortress at the Gulf of Akabah, on the Red Sea. Coloured lit Wellcome V0049440.jpg · https://wellcomeimages.org/indexplus/obf_images/fe/80/772671e1970a4debf9658a8b9646.jpg Gallery: https://wellcomeimages.org/indexplus/image/V0049440.html Wellcome Collection gallery (2018-03-29): https://wellcomecollection.org/works/zkkzszcx CC-BY-4.0 · CC BY 4.0 (licence)
Before you go
8 facts, each with its source- Time needed 2–3 hours Source: editor · category default
- Best season November–April Source: editor · category default
- Difficulty Easy Source: editor · category default
- Family friendly Yes — most have no lifeguard Source: editor · category default
- Facilities Nothing mapped nearby — bring water, expect no toilets Source: osm · no facility mapped within 800 m
- Drones Registration with GACA is required for any drone from 250 g, and registration alone is not permission to fly — an operational permit is also needed Source: official · national rule · General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) · checked 2026-09-05
- Dress Saudi Arabia expects modest dress in public: loose clothing covering shoulders and knees. Abaya is no longer required of visitors. Swimwear at the water, covered up away from it. Source: editor · category default
- Elevation 0 m Source: srtm · NASA SRTM 30 m model
Not confirmed for this place: 4x4 needed · Entry fee · Opening hours · Wheelchair. Know one of these? Tell us →
Safety notes
- Red Sea reef comes close to the surface and is sharp; wear something on your feet and do not stand on coral.
- Currents run strongly along the reef edge and many beaches have no lifeguard. Swim where other people are.
- Away from private resort beaches, modest swimwear is expected and photographing other beachgoers is not acceptable.
Editor notes, reviewed 2026-09-04
How far is it?
- 12 h 35 mfrom AlUla International Airport (ULH) · 839 km
- 7 h 7 mfrom Tabuk · 410 km
- 12 h 28 mfrom Sakaka · 877 km
Road distance and driving time from OpenStreetMap routing, without traffic. Mountain tracks are often slower than the router thinks.
When to go
November–April- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
ComfortableToo hot
The Red Sea is warm and clear year-round and diving does not really have an off-season; what closes the beach in summer is the air, not the water. The north is the cold end of the country. Winter nights drop below anything else on this site and the high ground occasionally sees snow, so a winter trip here needs different clothes from a winter trip to Jeddah.
Source: editor · category default · 2026-09-04. Category default set by the editor — a verified per-place season replaces it.
gulf in the Middle East
Short description from Wikidata (CC0) · Q81611
About & Sources Gulf of Aqaba
Gulf of Aqaba is a beach in Tabuk & the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia — Wikidata describes it as "gulf in the Middle East". Entry fee, opening hours and vehicle requirements have not yet been verified for this page — the fact box says so plainly rather than guessing, so check locally before you go. For this kind of place the comfortable season is typically November–April. Nearby: Madyan, Caves of Jethro and Madain tombs.
At a glance
- Beaches · Tabuk & the Red Sea
- gulf in the Middle East
- Season: November–April (editor default)
- Has a Wikipedia article
- 2 open-data sources · verified not yet
Photos
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, each with its author and licence.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Gulf of Aqaba?
Typically November–April for beaches. The Red Sea is warm and clear year-round and diving does not really have an off-season; what closes the beach in summer is the air, not the water. The north is the cold end of the country. Winter nights drop below anything else on this site and the high ground occasionally sees snow, so a winter trip here needs different clothes from a winter trip to Jeddah.
How long do I need at Gulf of Aqaba?
2–3 hours (guidance for this category).
What facilities are there at Gulf of Aqaba?
Nothing mapped nearby — bring water, expect no toilets (source: osm).
How high is Gulf of Aqaba?
About 0 m above sea level (source: srtm).
Where is Gulf of Aqaba?
In Tabuk & the Red Sea (SA-07), Saudi Arabia, at 28.7323, 34.6744 — near Madyan, Caves of Jethro and Madain tombs.
Who can take you there
All operators →Licensed local operators who run trips of this kind in this region. Contact them directly — we take no commission on an enquiry.
Are you a licensed operator who runs trips here? The first slot on this page is available to Verified operators for a flat monthly fee. No commission, and the enquiry goes straight to your WhatsApp.
Claim your listing →Operators are listed from open data and Ministry of Tourism's public directory. Ranking places paying operators first; everything else is by relevance and distance, and the badges say exactly what has been verified.
Nearby places
More in Tabuk & the Red Sea →
Caves of Jethro
archaeological site in Saudi Arabia
Jabal al Lawz
Mount Horeb In Saudi Arabia
Jabal Maqlā‘
Mountain in Tabūk, Saudi Arabia
Information is compiled from open data and editor checks; conditions, fees and access change — verify locally before you travel.