Tarout Castle
قلعة تاروت
A coral-stone castle built on the remains of a settlement that is five thousand years old, with surviving towers overlooking the old village of Tarout Island. It is one of the oldest historical sites in the Eastern Province.
Tarout Castle stands on Tarout Island off Qatif, linked to the mainland by a causeway. The castle itself was built around the 16th century from limestone and coral stone, and three towers and parts of the walls survive. The mound beneath it, however, is an ancient settlement dating back to about 3000 BCE, the Dilmun period. Temple artifacts and statues have been excavated here, some of which are held at the National Museum in Riyadh. Beside the castle are an ancient spring and the narrow lanes of the old village of Deira on Tarout. The exterior can be visited free of charge, while access to the interior depends on the state of repairs. It is about 30 km from Dammam and can be combined with the old souq in Qatif.
Opening hours
Exterior all day; interior open depending on restoration work
Nearby sights
- Marjan Island (Coral Island)
- Dammam Corniche
- Heritage Village, Dammam
- Ithra (King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture)
- Sultan bin Abdulaziz Science & Technology Center (Scitech)
- Khobar Water Tower
- Al Khobar Corniche
- Ajdan Walk