High Jinks at Half Moon Bay (Half Moon Bay (Arabic: شاطئ نصف القمر‎), is located near Khobar city in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.)

High Jinks at Half Moon Bay (Half Moon Bay (Arabic: شاطئ نصف القمر‎), is located near Khobar city in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.)

Every weekend, that is Thursday and Friday to us expatriates here in KSA, the youth as well as families hit the beaches and sand dunes of Half Moon Bay. It’s sort of the Riviera of the KSA part of the Arabian Gulf but without the glitz and and definately the glamour.

Segregated beaches for families and male only interspersed with compounds and villa complexes owned by organisations and wealthy individuals.

 

 Even some camel and horse riding available too!

A regular night market can be found here which unfortunately is not well frequented by westerners, certainly not in my time here in the Eastern Province. A shame, as there are some superb bargains to be had for anyone even slightly proficient in negotiating! Afghani carpets amongst the bargains.

 Apparently KSA has plans to open up for tourism, i.e non-religious visiting, and Half Moon Bay and the Khobar area are prime candidates for future development.

In the meantime not a lot of development, but plenty of sandy beaches. The Holiday Inn has a resort complex here but there are no other international hotels as yet. A sad indictment however is all the electricity sub-stations for the whole length of the ‘Bay are covered in graffiti. Mostly with phone numbers saying “call me”, sprayed on by the youth in the hope of attracting young ladies attention!

 What there is however on the landward side are thousands of hectares of desert, some of which becomes a playground for the youth on their ATV/quad bikes, 4wd’s and to the ill advised ordinary pickup trucks and cars. 

 ATV/Quad bikes can be hired for all ages from 3 years of age up to great-grandfathers and for both sexes. There are numerous hire places often operated by the Bedouins. Rentals normally by the hour.

The dunes can be quite treacherous for the inexperienced or unwary drivers so best to join the many watchers. The police have been clamping down, not afore time, regarding the boy racers on the main dual carriageway that runs the whole length of the ‘Bay. So be warned there are speed traps now!