YANBU, 13 December 2007 — Residents in this northwestern Saudi coastal city are used to seasonal tourists. In fact, it is common local knowledge that one must stake a claim on prime beachfront camping spaces before the Eid Al-Adha break attracts throngs of out-of-towners.

Every year about two weeks before Haj vacation, Yanbu residents start setting up tents on the beaches in and around Yanbu. They compete to reserve the best places as early as they can to enjoy the tempting atmosphere on the beach, which includes pleasant wintertime weather of mild temperatures.

There are places on Yanbu’s Corniche established for public camping; other places are prohibited, and, as municipal chief Abdul Al-Ali ibn Ali warns: “Whoever violates camping exposes himself to penalty and the removal of his tent.”

The municipality has special seasonal patrols to check for illegal camping activities, which includes fines up to SR10,000 for littering.

“We intensify our efforts during vacations, especially Eid Al-Adha holidays, because Yanbu is considered to be an attractive place for tourists,” said Maj. Ali Al-Shahri, head of the general affairs department at border guards’ office in Yanbu. He urged people to keep their places clean and to abide by rules. “There are some dangerous places where swimming is prohibited,” he added.

The municipality also provides workers to help locals set up electrical lines to the camp sites.

For Yanbu, the seasonal influx of tourists is a boon to local camping-supply stores who rent or sell Arabic-style tents.

“The fees of renting regular tents starts from SR500 up to SR5,000 during Eid vacation,” said Muhammad Al-Tayeb, a worker at a local shop that rents and sells the large framed tents that are a ubiquitous aspect of the Saudi landscape. “The prices for special tents start from SR5,000 up to SR25,000 each,” he added, referring to the more elaborate multiroomed tents that feature cooking and sitting areas and bedrooms.

Khaled Al-Johani, a Yanbu resident, has already staked his claim on some prime beachfront property. Why?

“It’s a great opportunity for us to enjoy the weather and the beach with the family and get away from work stress and the city crowd,” he said. “Our relatives outside of Yanbu visit us at the tent and always asks us to prepare it early, before they come.”