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.
Seasons for Diving and Getting There
Water temperatures are comfortable for much of the year, which makes the Red Sea a diving destination in almost every season. Spring and autumn are especially popular for their balance of warm water and mild air, while winter suits desert excursions on land. Whatever the month, dive centres, snorkelling trips and glass-bottom boats make it easy to meet the reef, and calm mornings are ideal for first-time snorkellers.
Access varies by shore. The Israeli resort of Eilat, the Saudi coast and Jeddah each have airports with links to the UK and Europe, and flights from London to the region take roughly five to six hours depending on the destination. For hotels and airlines, TheRedSea.co.uk offers a single story that covers the sea itself, while Saudi Arabia provides the wider heritage context for a longer stay.
Reef Resorts, Liveaboards and Island Hideaways
The Red Sea offers a stay for every kind of traveller, and its different shores give them different moods. On the Egyptian coast, resort towns such as Hurghada, Sharm el-Sheikh and Marsa Alam stretch along sheltered bays, with beach resorts, house reefs and dive centres, and are popular with families, groups and divers on short flights from the UK. Further north, Dahab and its laid-back seafront cafes attract snorkellers, kitesurfers and free spirits. At the head of the Gulf of Aqaba, Eilat and Aqaba offer compact resort strips with desert mountains behind.
Liveaboards are the diver's choice, sailing for days between remote reefs and wrecks with every dive planned around the best light. On the Saudi side, new island resorts and beachfront villas offer low-density luxury, with overwater suites and private reef access for couples and honeymooners. Boutique eco-lodges on quiet beaches suit wellness fans and nature lovers, while larger all-inclusive resorts keep family budgets simple. The Red Sea is long enough to combine two styles in one trip, such as a week of diving followed by a few nights on Sheybarah Island.
Grilled Fish, Bedouin Tea and Coastal Culture
Food along the Red Sea reflects both the sea and the desert. Grilled snapper, grouper and prawns arrive at beachfront tables with lemon, garlic and flatbread, and fish stews and spiced rice are a regional comfort. Bedouin tea, brewed with herbs and sweetened with sugar, is offered in desert camps, while fresh dates, figs and citrus fill markets on the coast. Egyptian koshari, Saudi kabsa, Israeli salads and Jordanian mansaf each add their own flavour, so a journey along the coast becomes a tasting menu of the Middle East.
Culture is just as varied. Pharaonic temples and monasteries lie within reach of the Egyptian shore, Nabataean heritage of AlUla is a short flight from the Saudi coast, and Jeddah's coral-stone houses tell the story of old trade routes. Craft markets sell woven baskets, silver, scented oils and shell jewellery. The best months are spring and autumn for diving, and winter for combined desert and sea trips, while summer suits early-morning reef sessions. A tourist board could link these chapters under one shared Red Sea story.
Wrecks, Dolphin Bays and Desert Crossings
The sea offers world-class diving and snorkelling for every level. Ras Mohammed National Park near Sharm el-Sheikh is celebrated for sheer walls and shoals of fish, the wreck of the Thistlegorm is among the best known in the world, and the reefs around Marsa Alam are known for turtles, dugongs and dolphins. Kitesurfers and windsurfers find steady winds at Dahab and El Gouna, and sailors charter yachts for island-hopping. Glass-bottom boats and semi-submersibles let non-divers see the reef, and dolphin-watching trips depart at first light.
Add-ons make a stay richer. From the Egyptian coast, day trips lead to Luxor, quad-bike desert tours and Bedouin dinners under the stars, while from Eilat a drive reaches Timna Park and the red canyons. Cairo pairs naturally with a Red Sea week, with pyramids and museums before the beach, and Jeddah adds a heritage city on the Saudi shore. Many travellers plan one active week of diving or watersports followed by a few days of rest, a rhythm that suits groups, couples and families alike.
Planning your stay
The Red Sea destination is a tourism project on the west coast of Saudi Arabia in Tabuk province, between Umluj and Al-Wajh, developed by Red Sea Global, which is owned by the Public Investment Fund, as part of Saudi Vision 2030. It includes more than 90 offshore islands.
Published sources say the first resorts opened from November 2023, with the Ummahat Islands following in 2024, Sheybarah Island in November 2024 and hotels on Shura Island from September 2025. Laheq Island, a private residential island announced in 2025, belongs to the next phase.
Entry rules: visa, ETA and e-visa waiver
For the Red Sea, your passport must have an expiry date at least six months after the date you arrive, and you must have a visa to visit. Tourists can also apply for an e-visa, valid for 365 days and for multiple entries totalling 90 days, online or on arrival at any of Saudi Arabia's international airports, such as Red Sea International Airport.
For the Red Sea travellers, an electronic visa waiver allows a single entry and a stay of up to 180 days, and should be applied for at least 48 hours before your flight.
Before you travel
Entry requirements and official travel guidance are updated regularly, so check the latest position with your government before booking. The sources we used are listed at the foot of this page.
Why the Red Sea matters to the industry
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Questions travellers ask about The Red Sea
Where is the Saudi Red Sea destination?
On the west coast of Saudi Arabia in Tabuk province, between Umluj and Al-Wajh, across islands, coast and desert.
Which resorts are open?
Published sources report several openings since November 2023, including on the Ummahat Islands, Sheybarah Island and Shura Island. Confirm current status with the operator.
What is the Red Sea best known for?
The Red Sea is best known for its clear, warm water and diverse coral reefs, which make it one of the world's leading destinations for diving and snorkelling. Its shores include Egypt, Israel, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, with new resort islands opening on the Saudi coast.
When is the best time for the Red Sea?
Spring and autumn are particularly popular for a balance of warm water and mild air, but the sea is comfortable for much of the year. Divers and snorkellers find clear water across the seasons, with calm mornings ideal for the reef.
Where should divers stay on the Red Sea?
Divers favour Marsa Alam, Sharm el-Sheikh, Dahab and liveaboard routes for reefs, wrecks and walls, while Eilat and Aqaba offer shore diving in the Gulf of Aqaba. New Saudi island resorts add pristine reefs with low-density luxury.
What is there to do on the Red Sea besides diving?
Try snorkelling, kitesurfing, glass-bottom boat trips, dolphin watching, desert safaris, Bedouin dinners and day trips to ancient sites. Spas, golf and relaxed beach days are easy to add to a week by the sea.
In the Visit Travel Group portfolio: TheRedSea.co.uk, VisitTheRedSea.co.uk.