Uncovering History in Uqair

Since it is almost Spring Break I have been having a think about some nice day trips we could do locally during this time. Since our last break was pretty jam-packed taking in the many sights of Saudi on our 4000km epic road trip and considering the weeks since then have been a bit crazy (intercepted missiles, sandstorms, covid scares and vaccinations, and lots of illness in the house) I feel that we need to do something very relaxing, very local and very easy. While looking at ways to spend our time I remembered a wonderful day we had in October last year in Uqair and surrounding areas and I thought I would share the details in case anyone else is looking for fun, family-friendly and local days out too.

For us in the Eastern Province, Uqair is within an hour's drive along a scenic coastal route. Like most places in the area, it is packed full of amazing history. Uqair, like nearby Qatif and AL Hasa, were key to ancient trading routes in the region. Uqair was the first port serving the Eastern region.

We packed up a picnic and headed to Uqair fort. An old trading market. It was really understated, so much so we almost thought we hadn't found it. It is near to the coast and overlooks stunning, still clear waters. The fort itself has huge wooden doors and there was a caretaker at the entrance who told us how people would trade in the main square and stay in rooms around the outside after traveling for a long time to get there. The origins are not completely known but it is thought that it was used during the Ottoman times. The kids enjoyed exploring the rooms and columns that remained as I imagined a bustling place full of life and travelers on their way from East to West.

We left the Fort and made our way to Uqair Roman Theatre. The views were lovely driving along the wild coastline. We found the replica Roman Theatre and although quite nice for a stroll near the beach and the upper level makes for a beautiful vantage point, I must admit; I found it a little random! I have no idea why it is there and I can't find anything online on any plans for it or even any historical or cultural significance for a Roman theatre in a very old Saudi port town. I mean, I have seen some random things on my travels but this is really up there with the most random of them so if you have any ideas, drop me a comment! Anyway, it was a nice little history lesson for the kids but only because we were in the area, despite the randomness I don't feel that it is worth making a special trip for! By the time we left the theatre, we were getting hungry so we were looking for any beach area to pull up on. Around the Roman Theatre, we saw cars driving along the beach which looked like a fun and scenic activity for the next time we are in the area. We passed a few beach areas that were well equipped with shades, play areas, and toilets.

We eventually stopped in a spot where we could back the car right onto a small strip of sand directly at the water's edge. This would be a fantastic spot for anyone who finds walking difficult or for wheelchair users. We enjoyed a car picnic in the boot of the car looking out to the sea. The water was crystal clear, green and so shallow. After lunch, we took a long walk right out to sea! We walked out for a good 5 minutes trying to reach the drop-off and the sea was still only up to my kid's knees! It was really a beautiful day out with a little bit of beach and a little bit of local history that felt worlds away from the hustle of Dammam and Khobar.