Where We Are Going Today: La Maison d’Obhur in Jeddah
Guests can enjoy a diverse menu prepared with premium ingredients, while taking in stunning views of the Red Sea
Updated 20 June 2024
Afshan Aziz
Nestled along the golden shores of the Red Sea, La Maison d’Obhur offers an impressive beach experience in Jeddah’s North Obhur.
As an exclusive women-only beach club, it provides a serene retreat where guests can bask in luxury and tranquility.
Established on one of the Kingdom’s most famous beaches, La Maison d’Obhur promises a perfect blend of sophisticated gastronomy, vibrant ambience, and unforgettable moments.
From the moment guests arrive, the sandy shores and crystal-clear waters set the scene for a time of ultimate relaxation. Cozy plush loungers dot the shoreline, providing perfect spots to soak up the sun. Personalized service enhances the experience, ensuring that every need is met with care and attention. The large swimming pool, with its stunning sea view, invites guests to unwind and take a refreshing dip. Meanwhile, a small pool caters specifically to children.
Dining at La Maison d’Obhur is a sensory delight, featuring a unique seaside experience. Guests can enjoy a diverse menu prepared with premium ingredients, while taking in stunning views of the Red Sea. From light snacks to lavish dinners, the culinary offerings cater to all tastes, ensuring every meal is memorable and satisfying.
However, the range of activities at the beach resort is limited. Beyond swimming in the beach and pool, and a few water activities available upon request, there is not much else to do. This might be a point of consideration for those seeking a more dynamic beach experience. Additionally, the policy allowing boys only below the age of 10 might not appeal to all.
Despite these limitations, La Maison d’Obhur excels in offering exclusivity and privacy, making it an ideal spot for a girls’ day out. Occasional themed nights and special events, such as DJ nights that also allow men to visit the resort, add extra fun and excitement.
La Maison d’Obhur certainly stands out as a premier destination for those seeking a lavish beach retreat. While it may benefit from offering more activities, the exclusive environment makes it a must-visit spot for relaxation and sunny ambience.
• Visit @lamaisondeobhur for more information and booking details.
From Saudi Arabia to 110 countries — the incredible story of a modern nomad
From backpacking to dumpster diving, Saudi nomad embraces uncertainty, learns to live in the moment
Updated 25 June 2024
Ghadi Joudah
RIYADH: As a child, Nasser Al-Sadhan would spend hours watching documentaries on countries such as Kenya and Ethiopia, fascinated by the diverse landscapes and cultures depicted on the screen.
As an adult, Al-Sadhan has been able to turn his childhood fantasies into reality by visiting these countries. Each step he takes in these unfamiliar territories brings back memories of the wonder and amazement he felt as a child.
Al-Sadhan is not your average traveler. The 35-year-old, born and raised in Riyadh, has backpacked to an astounding 110 countries, each journey leaving a mark on his soul.
Nasser Al-Sadhan is not your average traveler; the 35-year-old, born and raised in Riyadh, has backpacked to an astounding 110 countries, each journey, and its chance encounters, leaving a mark on his soul. (Supplied)
Traveling far enough, he discovered that finding yourself is not just a cliche — it is a transformative experience.
At 22, he moved to Canada and then Australia for his master’s degree and PhD in computer science specializing in AI.
“I moved back to Saudi Arabia at the end of 2019 when I became a professor of AI at King Saud University in Riyadh. Now, I am focusing on exploring the world and flow art,” Al-Sadhan told Arab News.
HIGHLIGHTS
• As a child, Nasser Al-Sadhan was intrigued by the sight of backpackers at the airport.
• Backpacking taught him how to live in the moment and seek new opportunities.
• He goes by @flowmad_ on Instagram, where he documents his travels and writes about the people he met along the way.
He goes by @flowmad_ on Instagram, an amalgamation of his love of flow arts and being a nomad.
Al-Sadhan began his backpacking adventures in 2014. Even as a child, he was intrigued by the sight of backpackers at the airport. “I never had the chance to do it (backpacking) until I moved to Canada for my higher education and had more free time and income,” he said.
Nasser Al-Sadhan is not your average traveler; the 35-year-old, born and raised in Riyadh, has backpacked to an astounding 110 countries, each journey, and its chance encounters, leaving a mark on his soul. (Supplied)
He fondly recalls one late-night conversation with his roommate Francis from South Korea. Al-Sadhan said that as they browsed countries on Google Maps, he felt a sense of wanderlust stirring within him.
He knew that that moment was the catalyst for his journey into the unknown. It ignited a spark in him that would ultimately lead him to thrilling experiences across the globe.
“I backpack because normal traveling where everything is planned and everything is booked doesn’t sound exciting to me … there isn’t any room left for spontaneity, no room for unplanned experiences.”
Among Al-Sadhan’s travels to strange lands is his visit to the infamous Darvaza Gas Crater, a natural wonder in Turkmenistan. (Supplied)
He rarely if ever plans his flight and accommodation in advance. “The two biggest obstacles that I had to overcome — that later proved to be very valuable — is going with the flow … not having a plan and not booking anything in advance,” he said.
Backpacking taught him how to live in the moment and seek new opportunities.
“I would often book a flight for the same night I wanted to travel so that I could reach the city and find accommodations there. But sometimes I would not find any place to stay,” he said.
The Saudi nomad’s willingness to embrace uncertainty and new experiences has fostered meaningful connections that transcend geographical boundaries, sometimes restoring his faith in humanity.
Once he slept on the beach in Sri Lanka because he couldn’t find any accommodation. “But then I met an amazing Ukrainian group, and they offered me a place to sleep,” he recalled. “We became friends and we ended up spending the next two weeks together.”
On one trip, Al-Sadhan’s phone stopped working while he was on a train in Poland. “That is when I saw two guys from Brazil with backpacks, so I asked them if they knew of a hostel, they said ‘Yes,’ and I followed them to it.”
The trio traveled together for the next three days and became friends.
“During my trip to Japan, I did not have the local currency on me and couldn’t pay for the bus fare when a girl helped pay it for me.” He noted that the two became friends as she showed him around the country.
Al-Sadhan said that this no-plan approach has pushed him out of his comfort zone and allowed him to break free from his cocoon.
“I have been traveling the world for the past 10 years and never had a hardship that resulted in a bad experience,” he said.
These chance encounters have enriched his travels, exposing him to diverse cultures and perspectives.
Without a fixed itinerary or set plan, he allows himself to be guided by the winds of the moment, resulting in unforgettable experiences and connections.
In 2016, before moving to Australia from Canada, Al-Sadhan made a pit stop in New Zealand and that trip restored his faith in humanity.
“New Zealand is a pretty expensive country and at that time I was a student, so I decided to hitchhike the whole way across the country because I didn’t have much money,” Al-Sadhan said.
Hitchhiking was faster than taking buses and allowed him to connect with individuals from various backgrounds, including a kind-hearted mother and her child, and a scientist studying birds on a remote island inaccessible to the public.
An experience backpacker, he revealed a trial-and-error approach to packing the essentials and emphasized the importance of minimalism and focusing on functionality rather than style. On his trip to New Zealand he carried “a functional sleeping bag, tent and small air mattress.”
During this five-week trip, Al-Sadhan gained a deep appreciation for the importance of community. To keep his spending to a minimum, he resorted to couch surfing — a form of accommodation where travelers stay at the homes of locals for free.
He stayed at a communal apartment with four rooms and a living room with 30 people staying in it. “I stayed there for about six days because I enjoyed it. People from various countries were there, creating a sense of community where everyone helped each other,” Al-Sadhan said.
There was only one rule in this apartment: “If you cook, you cook for everyone.”
“One day someone came in with a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables and when I asked where they got them, they said ‘From the dumpster behind the supermarket.’”
While dumpster diving, they found a variety of items, including fresh produce, bread, and more. “If we found something like ice cream or eclairs, it would go to the person who went dumpster diving that day.”
While dumpster diving in a foreign country, he discovered a vibrant community of people from diverse cultures coming together to share resources.
Dumpster diving saved him money, but it’s not just about finding free food, but about building relationships and experiencing a new culture.
Among his travels to strange lands is his visit to the infamous Darvaza Gas Crater, a natural wonder in Turkmenistan. It is also known as the “Gates of Hell,” as it is a fiery pit that has been burning continuously for more than four decades, emitting a captivating blaze that lights up the night sky.
“We reached the gas crater before sunset and there was nothing to see but sand everywhere, but after sunset is when cylinder-shaped fiery lights beam from the hole.” Al-Sadhan recalled the eerie sight of birds swirling around the flames, dancing against the darkened backdrop of the desert area.
“My tour guide explained to me that these birds are feeding on the flies attracted to the light of the flames,” he said.
He had another life-changing experience in Varanasi, India. Unlike the rest of the places Al-Sadhan has been to, which he described as somewhat similar, “Varanasi is the exact opposite of that; everything is different, and nothing is the same.”
During his five days there, he had the opportunity to witness the customs and traditions of the region, including the public funeral procession and cremation that takes place along the banks of the sacred Ganges River.
Watching the ceremonial cremation of a middle-aged man, Al-Sadhan said: “They have a different social and spiritual relationship with death.” He vividly described how the bodies were wrapped in cloth before being placed on the funeral pyre and set ablaze.
The solemnity of the ceremony, combined with the spiritual energy of the festival, made him reflect on the fragility of life and the importance of cherishing each moment.
Tourists drawn to Al-Mandaq’s farms, cottages renovated by locals
Initiatives reflect agricultural tradition, cultural identity
Updated 24 June 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: Several private farms in Baha have been renovated and revamped by their owners to reflect agricultural tradition and cultural identity, helping to attract tourists to the area.
Among these, Al-Mandaq Governorate’s farms and rural cottages stand out, according to a report by the Saudi Press Agency. These farms, which are located throughout the region, have a variety of trees and tastefully structured rustic houses that draw in the visitors.
The owner of one farm, Othman Hassan Al-Zahrani, explained that the idea to restore his farm originated in 2022.
Al-Zahrani rebuilt his farm’s agricultural terraces and planted various fruit-bearing trees, including pomegranate, almond, lemon, kumquat, apricot, peach, flat peach, fig, and blackberry. In addition, coffee and samples of some rare trees were also planted.
Many locals in Baha have also focused on restoring their farms and transforming them into tourist sites. Their efforts emphasize local heritage while aligning with Saudi Vision 2030 under the Saudi Green Initiative.
Saudi woman Sondos Jaan set to climb the highest peak in the Arab world
Adventurer tackles Mount Toubkal in Morocco
Updated 22 June 2024
Jasmine Bager
DHAHRAN: Sondos Jaan embarked on the journey to the highest peak in the Arab world on June 20.
It is the latest episode in Jaan’s love for mountain adventures, but to understand the fascination it is important to take a look back at her childhood.
She told Arab News: “I am from Madinah. I was born in a city where I could see a mountain from my bedroom window, and as I walked the streets I would see mountains.”
A picture of Sondos Jaan aged about 5 on the top of a mountain with her father. (Supplied)
Those peaks were an important part of her early childhood. There are pictures of Jaan aged about 5 on the top of mountains. She said: “I call these pictures ‘Sondos between two mountains,’ the real mountain carved in nature, and my father.”
During family camping trips, she would sneak away the moment her family was not paying attention in order to climb a mountain.
HIGHLIGHTS
• For her latest adventure, Sondos Jaan is climbing Morocco’s Mount Toubkal, which is a height of 4,167 meters.
• The climb has two routes: The first takes three days of climbing, and the second takes two days but is more challenging.
She added: “I would hear my father calling me, telling me to stay put and to wait for him. My dear father would come to me and we would then climb together, step by step, him telling me where to place my feet until we reached the summit, and then we would descend together, just the two of us.”
Sondos Jaan from Madinah hopes that young Saudi girls reading about her adventures will feel encouraged to take up sports and hobbies they are passionate about. (Supplied)
Her father was the first adventurer she knew. He was always prepared, she says, and “his car was always ready for a trip.”
She said: “He would tell me stories when he returned from hunting trips, whether on land or at sea. I would imagine the stories as if he were the hero in one of the animated films I watched. Sometimes he would take me with him, and I felt like I was part of the story.”
Sondos Jaan from Madinah hopes that young Saudi girls reading about her adventures will feel encouraged to take up sports and hobbies they are passionate about. (Supplied)
Her love for adventure was instilled in her by her father from a very early age. And it seems mountain climbing is in her DNA.
Jaan said: “My father is my primary mountain-climbing coach, and I certainly inherited the spirit of adventure and love for travel, experiences, and camping from him.
Sondos Jaan from Madinah hopes that young Saudi girls reading about her adventures will feel encouraged to take up sports and hobbies they are passionate about. (Supplied)
“He taught me swimming, horse riding, hunting, fishing, and the basics of camping.”
For her latest adventure, Jaan and a friend are climbing Morocco’s Mount Toubkal, which is a height of 4,167 meters. The climb has two routes: the first takes three days of climbing, and the second takes two days but is more challenging.
A file photo of Sondos Jaan when she was about five years old. (Supplied)
They started the climb early, continuing for about nine to 11 hours, followed by an overnight stay at an elevation of 3,200 meters above sea level.
She believes that elements of nature are instilled within each of us and it is our duty — and a privilege — to find and channel those elements.
She said that climbing to Everest Base Camp was the hardest trek she has yet attempted. It was a two-week journey and she added that she was not able to sleep, eat well or breathe properly due to oxygen deficiency in the two days leading up to arrival at the base camp. However, those were not the main factors behind it being her most difficult climb.
She said: “The (main) reason was simply managing expectations. I was emotional after walking all that time and reaching what was supposed to be the summit for that trip, only to realize it wasn’t even the summit.
“It was the main camp where climbers camp for two months every year before attempting to reach the Everest summit, allowing their bodies to acclimatize to the oxygen deficiency, training, and waiting for the right time to climb the summit.”
The experience taught her a valuable lesson, and she added: “I remember descending and as soon as we settled in one of the tea houses, I cried.
“They asked me why. I said I wanted pizza, crying real tears. The owners of the house tried hard to make pizza for me. I ate one slice and gave the rest to their dog. I reflected on my feelings and asked myself, ‘Why did I act that way?’ And the simple answer was, we didn’t reach the summit, we just saw it up close.”
She considers the thrill of the journey, and not only the destination, to be one worth embracing. She now believes that the feeling of almost giving up happens during every climb; she sees it as a healthy sign.
She added: “It is a reminder that I am human. It is also a reminder that I am capable of doing things that might seem impossible, not because I have superhuman strength, but because I am a human capable of overcoming challenges. This gives me the motivation to complete the climb.”
She believes her latest adventure also serves a greater purpose. Seeing Saudi women participate in various fields, especially sports, helps encourage her to keep striving for the highest heights.
She hopes that young girls reading about her adventures will feel encouraged to take up sports and hobbies they are passionate about, and that her experiences will help to push them to their limits to break stereotypes and barriers along the way.
She is to continue her climb, whether it be a mountain to conquer, or toward the goals of her gender.
For those starting out, she advised: “(You must) start with small, achievable goals and gradually increase the difficulty level. Ensure you have the right gear and training: it’s important to be physically and mentally prepared.
“Join a community or group of climbers for support and motivation. Most importantly, believe in yourself and enjoy the journey.”
Unwind and reconnect with nature at these Saudi reserves and resorts
Model and actress Maria Eduarda spoke to Arab News about her stay: “Everything was great! The food, the room service, and in-villa dining were amazing … The structure inside the villa is amazing … I loved it — one of the best stops ever”
Updated 19 June 2024
Nada Alturki
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia boasts a plethora of novel natural reserves and resorts that champion the nourishment of the mind, body, and soul.
From lush mountain ranges to glistening blue waters, the well-preserved environments have become must-visit spots for those looking to discover the Kingdom’s hidden gems and reconnect with nature.
Situated on a pristine private island, the newly opened Nujuma, Ritz-Carlton Reserve marks the brand's debut in the Middle East, featuring coral reefs beneath the water’s surface and a clear view of the night stars, which inspired the name ‘Nujuma’. (Supplied)
Nujuma, Ritz-Carlton Reserve, The Red Sea
Situated on a private island, the newly opened Nujuma, Ritz-Carlton Reserve marks the brand’s debut in the Middle East, featuring coral reefs beneath the water’s surface and a clear view of the night stars, inspiring its name.
Model and actress Maria Eduarda spoke to Arab News about her stay: “Everything was great! The food, the room service, and in-villa dining were amazing … The structure inside the villa is amazing … I loved it — one of the best stops ever.”
Aseel Resort is a one-of-a-kind family experience that merges nature, heritage and luxury. (Supplied)
The resort features 63 one-to-four-bedroom water and beach villas, designed to blend in with the unspoiled natural environment. Guests can indulge in a lavish spa, swimming pools, a range of restaurants, and a retail area.
The Neyrah Spa offers relaxation with a touch of regional ingredients like oud and moringa peregrina tree oil. The wellness services include guided breathing techniques, meditation, yoga, and sound healing therapy.
The relaxing Nofa Riyadh features luxury villas complete with private gardens and swimming pools, surrounded by green lawns, sand dunes and mountains. (Supplied)
The on-site Conservation House is an ode to nomadic exploration, providing a space for guests to get creative, expand their knowledge, and foster a sense of community through resident sustainability, environmental, and cultural experts.
Al-Ahsa Oasis, Al-Ahsa
Boasting natural springs and lush greenery, Al-Ahsa Oasis is the perfect spot for a family getaway. Home to one of the biggest oases in the world and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the limestone hills of Al-Qarah and Al-Ahsa National Park are just a few of the attractions.
For those looking to discover Saudi’s regional flora and fauna, Shada mountain is just an hour and a half drive fromAl-Baha city in the Jabal Shada Nature Reserve. (SPA)
The historical region in the eastern part of Saudi Arabia is filled with potential recreational activities, including water fountain light shows, a football stadium, mazes, and a theater at King Abdullah Environment Park.
Asfar Lake, or Yellow Lake, is an unforgettable site from over the sand dunes, while Souq Al-Qaisariya is one of the oldest markets in the Kingdom for memorable souvenirs.
The Sharaan Nature Reserve spans 1,500 square kilometers, showcasing stunning red-rock canyons, valleys, and desert landscapes. (AN photo by Zaid Khashogji)
Jabal Shada, Baha
For those looking to discover Saudi Arabia’s regional flora and fauna, Jabal Shada is just an hour-and-a-half drive from Baha in the Jabal Shada Nature Reserve. Marked with unusual rock formations, the area is home to unique geological cave formations, reportedly dating back 763 million years and engraved with Thamudic writings and drawings that date back 3,000 years.
Tours are available to book through Akam Aljazerah’s website, and modern stays nearby are equipped with kitchens, balconies, and breathtaking views.
Guests can also immerse themselves in the gastronomic arts by enrolling in a cooking school to master healthy recipes and techniques. (Supplied)
Sharaan Nature Reserve, AlUla
Sharaan Nature Reserve spans 1,500 sq. km, showcasing stunning red-rock canyons, valleys, and desert landscapes.
Safari Sharaan’s guided 4x4 adventures allow guests to explore wildlife like red-necked ostriches and Arabian ibex, and discover ancient rock carvings.
Saudi Arabia has played a crucial role by establishing specialized breeding centers and veterinary facilities for the Arabian oryx. (SPA)
Guests can relax at Habitas AlUla, featuring Thuraya Wellness’ yoga, fitness, and personalized treatment offerings with local oils and teas, or stay in wellness-focused villas like Celestial and Alcove at Habitas.
The Banyan Tree’s tented villas and spa blend Asian and Saudi traditions for unique wellness experiences. Enjoy a secluded rock pool amid mountains, ideal for a refreshing swim and memorable moments.
Nofa Riyadh, Riyadh
The relaxing Nofa Riyadh features luxury villas complete with private gardens and swimming pools, surrounded by green lawns, sand dunes and mountains.
Dareen Al-Rajeh, a senior project associate, said about her stay there: “I liked how it was clean and comfortable with a generous welcome from the staff. The villa has a unique style with your own swimming pool … Walking around the resort, you will pass by a lot of animals, which makes you feel connected to nature … The resort has a spa, a children’s playground, multiple restaurants, and a small lake and boats.”
Guests are encouraged to experience nature on a whole new level at the resort’s incredible Wildlife Park where Asian elephants, Grevy’s zebras, Arabian oryx, and giraffes can be spotted.
Nofa’s on-site 39-seat theater is the place to unwind in style and enjoy daily movie screenings at your leisure or have a family competition at the Nofa Bowling Alley. Younger children can enjoy the Kids’ Adventure Park, an exciting indoor park with action-packed games and a playground.
Aseel Resort, Diriyah
Aseel Resort is a family experience that merges nature, heritage, and luxury. Nestled in the birthplace of the Kingdom, Diriyah, the resort was created as an ode to Saudi history and Najd’s beautiful artistry.
The resort allows anywhere from six to 75 guests, with six farms to choose from. Each one is decorated with ornate art by local creatives. Whether you take a dip in the farm’s private pool or enjoy game nights with your family at the indoor majlis, it’s a space to create lifetime memories.
Six Senses Southern Dunes, The Red Sea
Set against the dramatic backdrop of desert plains and the Hijaz Mountains, Six Senses Southern Dunes pays homage to Nabataean architectural heritage and its majestic desert surroundings.
The resort offers 36 guest rooms and 40 pool villas, while the spa offers a traditional hammam experience, meditative yoga sessions, and other tailored wellness treatments and.
From Al-Sarab to Merkaz, Bariya, and beyond, the flavors of Saudi culinary heritage are endless, crafted with ingredients sourced from the chef’s garden or local suppliers.
Guests can also immerse themselves in the gastronomic arts by enrolling in a cooking school to master healthy recipes and techniques.
‘Living rocks’ off Saudi Arabia’s Sheybarah Island offer glimpse of how life on Earth began
Colony of living stromatolites discovered by KAUST team being hailed as a gift to geologists, biologists and environmental scientists
Geology professor Volker Vahrenkamp had set out to take a closer look at a phenomenon they first spotted on satellite images
Updated 09 June 2024
Jonathan Gornall
LONDON: It was something of an accidental discovery, admits Volker Vahrenkamp with a smile.
“Sometimes, these things need a little luck.”
Vahrenkamp, a professor of geology at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Thuwal, on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast, had set out with a team of colleagues to take a closer look at a coastal geological phenomenon they had spotted on satellite images.
Stromatolites are layered rock-like structures created by tiny microbes, some of which trap sediment in their filaments. (UNSW Sydney/Brendan Burns)
The so-called teepee structures, a tent-shaped buckling of sedimentary deposits found in intertidal zones, are valuable indicators of environmental changes, ancient and modern.
The team was delighted to discover there were examples virtually on their doorstep — just 400 kilometers up the coast from KAUST, off the southern tip of Sheybarah Island, best known for Red Sea Global’s luxury tourism resort of the same name.
“There aren’t really many good examples of teepee structures, where people can study how they form,” Vahrenkamp told Arab News.
“Then we spotted this, and it’s the most spectacular example that I’m aware of.”
The satellite images had shown that there were two teepee fields in the island’s intertidal zone and, after a short boat trip across from the mainland on a converted fishing boat, “we landed on the island, examined one field, and then started walking across to the other.”
And then, as they crossed the foreshore between the two, “we literally stepped on these stromatolites.”
Stromatolites are layered rock-like structures created by tiny microbes, individually invisible to the naked eye, some of which trap sediment in their filaments.
The stromatolites are built up in layers over years thanks to the actions of tiny microbes. (Photo by Elisa Garuglieri)
Living on rocks in the intertidal zone, they are covered and uncovered daily by the coming and going of the tides and, in a process known as biomineralization, slowly transform the dissolved minerals and sand grains they capture into a solid mass.
Human beings, and every other living thing on Earth that relies on oxygen to survive, owe their very existence to the tiny, so-called cyanobacteria that have been creating stromatolites for about 3.5 billion years.
Cyanobacteria were one of the first lifeforms on Earth, at a time when the planet’s atmosphere consisted mainly of carbon dioxide and methane. When they emerged about 3.5 billion years ago, they possessed a particular skill — the ability to generate energy from sunlight.
Seen magnified multiple times under a scanning electron microscope, in this section of a stromatolite measuring just 0.4 mm across the microbial filaments and the sediment they have trapped can clearly be seen. (Photo by Elisa Garuglieri)
This process, photosynthesis, had a crucial by-product — oxygen. Scientists now believe that the microscopic cyanobacteria were responsible for the biggest thing that ever happened on the planet — the Great Oxidation Event, which saw Earth’s atmosphere transformed and set the scene for the evolution of oxygen-dependent life as we now know it.
Most stromatolites today are merely fossils. As other life on Earth developed, they lost their foothold in the planet’s oceans to competitors, such as coral reefs.
Volker Vahrenkamp, professor of geology at KAUST. (Supplied)
In a few places in the world, however, “modern” living stromatolites, “analogs for their ancient counterparts,” as Vahrenkamp puts it, continue to grow.
“Stromatolites are a vestige of the earliest life on Earth,” he said. “They ruled the Earth for an incredible period of time, about 3 billion years.
“Today they are part of the rock record in many parts of the world, but from these old rocks it is impossible to work out what type of microbes were involved and exactly how they did what they did.”
INNUMBERS
• 400 kilometers Distance of teepee fields from KAUST campus
• 3 billion Years when rock-like stromatolites ruled the Earth
• 120 Meters by which sea level was lower during last Ice Age
That’s why the discovery of a rare colony of living stromatolites, such as the one-off Sheybarah Island, is such a gift to geologists, biologists and environmental scientists.
“When you find a modern example such as this, the chances are that you might be able to better understand how the interaction of this microbial community led to the creation of stromatolites.”
Other examples are known, but they are almost always found in extreme environments, such as alkaline lakes and ultra-saline lagoons, where competitors cannot thrive.
Sheybarah Island resort. (Red Sea Global photo)
One previous colony has been found in a more normal marine environment, in the Bahamas — which Vahrenkamp has visited, which is why he so readily recognized what he was walking on off Sheybarah Island — but this is the first example of living stromatolites discovered in Saudi waters.
It is not yet clear how old these stromatolites are, “but we can bracket it a little,” said Vahrenkamp.
“We know that during the last Ice Age, the sea level here was 120 meters lower, so they were not there 20,000 years ago. The area where they are was flooded about 8,000 years ago to a height about 2 meters above where it is now, and then the sea level receded again to where it is now about 2,000 years ago.”
Sheybarah Island Resort. (Red Sea Global photo)
This does not mean the stromatolites are 2,000 years old. No one knows how long it takes the microbes to create their sedimentary layer cake and “no one has yet come up with a good way of dating the layers.
“The tide and the waves come along and throw in sand and material from the surrounding reefs and so all kinds of ages might be present. This makes it very difficult to precisely date the stromatolites and to estimate the growth rate.”
That is why Vahrenkamp and colleagues are now devising an experiment to recreate the natural environment of rising and falling tides and alternating sunlight and darkness in an aquarium, in an effort to grow stromatolites under controlled, easily observable conditions
Sheybarah Island at an early stage of construction. (Red Sea Global photo)
Whether this will take weeks or many years, “we honestly don’t know.”
The team is also working on genetically sequencing many of the thousands of different types of microbial bacteria at work in the stromatolite factory.
“It’s a question of finding out ‘who’ is there, and who’s doing what,” said Vahrenkamp
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“But then there is also the question of what kind of functionalities do these bacteria have, and whether we can we use it in other ways, perhaps in medical applications.
“Scientists are now looking intently at the microbial composition of our guts, to find out which microbes cause cancer, for example, and which prevent it. The microbacteria at work in stromatolites could contain functional secrets that we simply are not yet aware of.”
The discovery also has resonance for the environmental ambitions of the Saudi Green Initiative, announced by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in 2021 and which aims, together with the Middle East Green Initiative, to combat climate change through regional cooperation.
Sheybarah Island resort. (Red Sea Global photo)
As Vahrenkamp and his seven co-authors wrote in a paper published recently in Geology, the journal of the Geological Society of America, “the discovery of the Sheybarah stromatolite fields holds important implications, not only in the scientific perspective, but also in terms of ecosystem services and environmental heritage awareness in line with the ongoing projects for sustainability and ecotourism development promoted by Saudi Arabia.”
In the paper, the KAUST scientists thank Red Sea Global for its support in accessing the stromatolite site, which is currently being considered for designation as a conservation zone.
As for the tourists relaxing in the spectacular new overwater villas on Sheybarah Island’s crystal-clear Al-Wajh Lagoon, an extra attraction now is that a short stroll along the beach will take them back in time for a glimpse of life on Earth 3.5 billion years ago.
