For many years in a row resident of Al-Saqeed village in the Farasan Islands, have been suffering from the government’s lack of services, and the demolition and collapsing of their buildings which are historical, as they go back to more than 300 years.
The historical village, which has lived for all those years despite the changes of the environment, is now suffering neglect and the absence of officials’ protection and maintenance.
More than 700 historic houses are more than a quarter of a century old, the people of the village tried to preserve it with their funds and technical efforts. They also demanded the government to protect the village before its homes fall, and the disappearance of its features due to the environmental changes and governments’ negligence.
The village of Al-Saqeed is called “The Little Knights” because of its vastness, flatness of the land, diversity of topography, and multiplicity of its archaeological and historical sites.
This area is one of the inhabited islands, and its people call it “the land of palms” in relation to the palms that adorn its extended coasts. It is also characterized by being a semi-natural reserve for many herds of deer, as well as the lengthy bridge linking it with the governorate, which is 560 meters long.
Despite the advantages of the region that qualifies it to be a top touristic area in the Kingdom, it suffers from severe neglect, like the rest of many regions. The regime of bin Salman did not restore or benefit from it in the tourism sector or even try to improve the standards of its people.
Due to the negligence of the authorities to the city and the reluctance of tourists to visit it, some people emigrated after it became difficult for them to lead an east life due to the absence of the necessary services and capabilities.
Yahya Al-Asiri is one of those who took on the issue of preserving the region’s antiquities and its history, as it is rich and enjoys different weather, but he expressed his deep regrets over the deteriorating condition of the region.
Ayoub Al-Muhaisni is one of those who were responsible for communication with the officials. He spoke lengthly about the long history of the region, considering himself one of the most knowledgeable of the hidden treasures of the region. He expressed that the area is in need of officials and people joining efforts to restore and preserve the area's antiquities as a place for tourists throughout the year.
Ali Maqbool, the sheikh of the largest tribes in the region, said that about 700 historical houses suffer from neglect and that their residents were a mixture of 9 major tribes (the Manasik, Mudhafrah, Al-Sahaliah, Al-Masawi, Al-Ashqar, Al-Aqaliyah, Al-Abbous, Al-Kaikat, and Al-Sawaqla tribes) all of whom were work in the sea, and they dive, pearl fishing, palm cultivation, and harvesting dates, but what the region is going through has prompted many to leave and emigrate from the region.
