Al-Qassar Village

Al-Qassar is an old heritage village on Greater Farasan Island, the largest island of the Farasan archipelago, which belongs to the Jazan Region in the southern Red Sea. It lies a short distance south of the town of Farasan.

Al-Qassar was traditionally the summer retreat of the people of Farasan. They moved there in the summer months, at the time when the dates ripened, to benefit from its plentiful fresh well water, the shade of its palms and air that was milder than on the coast. The houses were built of local stone and roofed with palm trunks and fronds, with narrow passages between them. Researchers have noted ancient remains and inscriptions in the surrounding area that point to settlement in pre-Islamic times.

The village has undergone restoration, in which a number of houses were rebuilt and the paths were prepared for visitors. Visitors walk among the houses, wells and palm groves and can see the simple method of building suited to the island's climate. Al-Qassar represents an important part of the social heritage of Farasan.