Yanbu has a large Asian population brought in to build the industrial heart of the city. Their presence gives an Asian accent to the city with many Asian restaurants and goods sold in the local markets. The city is formed of three smaller villages, each of which has an old quarter.
Whilst dilapidated in most cases, the government has recognised the importance of each and a renovation programme is underway. People also visit for the diving there on the unspoilt coral reefs that line the natural harbour. It’s all the more surprising given the industrial nature of the port.
Yanbu Airport Mini Guide
Yanbu Airport is a regional or domestic airport near the town of Yanbu in Saudi Arabia. It is located north of the important town of Jeddah. The airport had a new terminal opened in 2007 and there are very good facilities within the terminal. There are two lounges that are able to deal with 5000 passengers. The airport handles over 2,000 passengers weekly.
The airport is served domestically by Saudi Arabia Airlines and has flights to 2 cities, Riyadh and Jeddah. There are almost 30 flights per week operating from the airport. The airport is also important for pilgrims who are on the way to Medina. The airport can be easily reached by the main North - South Highway 5 or by the 328 from the east.
The town itself is very accessible and you are able to enjoy a lot of wide open spaces and parks. The beautiful beach front and marina provides an idyllic place to eat and watch the world go by.
The city is divided into three villages that are easy to access by car and takes only 15 minutes. Al-Balad is the downtown area and where you will find most of the shopping centres and people. Yanbu Al-Nakheel or the Palms is the old part which is mostly farmland. The final one is the industrial part called Yanbu Al-Sina'iya which is where you will find the petrochemical installations and the oil refineries. The airport is centrally located and has easy access to the three areas.
Useful Links: