Antiquities of Darin Island

The Antiquities of Darin Island, located in Qatif Governorate in the Eastern Province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, consist of several archaeological sites. Among these are Darin Castle and the Darin excavation site. The historic core of Darin includes several ancient buildings, which represent 12 percent of the structures in the area. Some of these buildings have collapsed or been abandoned, and most consist of two floors, followed by single-story buildings, with a few others having three floors. The materials used for construction included mud, palm trunks, stone brought from the sea by residents, and shandal (traditional wooden beams).

Located on a mound in the middle of the curved southern coast of Darin town, Darin Castle is also known as the Palace of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulwahab al-Fihani, a prominent pearl merchant in the region at that time. He rebuilt the castle in 1886 on its previous foundations. The castle has a square shape and was built of marine stones and mud. The palace contains residential units, in addition to service facilities and horse stables. Antiquities dating back to the BCE period were also found under the palace.

It is part of the ancient archaeological island of Darin. Its name was historically linked to the field of trade, as it was known for the trade in musk; Dari musk or Darin musk, in addition to incense.

The site contains a collection of architectural units designated for residential and commercial use, in addition to the archaeological artifacts discovered, which have been dated to the period between 250 - 400.

The Darin Airport terminal is located in the northeastern part of Darin Island, southwest of Tarout Island in al-Qatif Governorate. Before becoming an abandoned structure and a heritage site in the Eastern Province, it was the first airport in the Arabian Gulf after Manama Airport in Bahrain. Planes used to land there weekly, coming from Gudaibiya Airport in Manama. The airport ceased operations in 1932, and by 1939, it was abandoned. Today, only the fuel depot room remains, isolated from the main building and the runway, which was situated six hundred m from the coast.

On November 24, 2022, The Crown Prince, Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, announced the developmental approach for Darin and Tarout islands, as well as the future initiatives of the island, and the establishment of the Darin and Tarout Island Development Corporation.

To achieve the goals of the development plan for the island, more than nineteen specialized initiatives have been developed. In the cultural aspect, these include the restoration of Darin Castle and Darin Airport as heritage tourism destinations, as well as the organization of several cultural and heritage festivals on the island.

The Darin and Tarout Island Development Corporation aims to enhance the island's competitiveness and quality of life, support the local economy by creating more job opportunities, and contribute to the preservation of the island's environmental and historical sites.

On February 27, 2024, the first meeting of the Board of Directors of the Darin and Tarout Island Development Corporation was held to facilitate the corporation's launch. The development of Darin and Tarout Island will be guided by three pillars: preserving the historical and cultural aspects, revitalizing natural and environmental sites, and enhancing the quality of life on the island while boosting its tourism economy.

The studies being conducted by the Eastern Province Development Authority for the island's development include initiatives such as the restoration of Darin Palace, the detailed master plan for the island, the Mangrove Environmental Park, the restoration of Tarout Castle, and the development of the old town.