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Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia

Half Moon Bay

A wide crescent-shaped bay on the Gulf south of Al Khobar, with calm shallow water, beaches, resorts and nearby dunes — the Eastern Province's favourite weekend beach escape.

Favourite places

Local food

  • Hamour (grouper)

    Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia

    The favourite fish of the Gulf coast, served grilled, fried or cooked with spiced rice (machboos). Eastern Province fish restaurants usually let you pick the fish and the way it is cooked.

  • Machboos

    Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia

    The Gulf cousin of kabsa: rice cooked with dried black lime (loomi), spices and chicken, lamb or fish. Common across the Eastern Province and the other Gulf states.

  • Saudi coffee (qahwa) and dates

    Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia

    Lightly roasted coffee brewed with cardamom, sometimes saffron or cloves, poured in small cups from a dallah and always served with dates. Offering it is the first gesture of hospitality; shake the cup gently when you have had enough.Read more

Where to eat

  • Seafood restaurants

    Dammam and Al Khobar

    Fish restaurants across the two cities serve the catch of the Gulf — hamour, shrimp and other local fish — grilled, fried or with machboos rice. Many let you choose your fish from the counter.

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Where to stay

  • Half Moon Bay resorts

    Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia

    Beach resorts and chalet compounds on the bay south of Al Khobar — a weekend escape with private beaches, about 40 minutes from the city.

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  • Al Khobar Corniche and Prince Turki Street

    Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia

    The liveliest place to stay in the Eastern Province: hotels facing the sea, with the Corniche, cafés and restaurants on the doorstep and the King Fahd Causeway a short drive away.

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Culture

Weekend beach trips here are a family affair, with tents, barbecues and coffee. In winter people also camp in the desert nearby.

History

Half Moon Bay (Shatee Nisf Al Qamar) takes its name from the curve of its shoreline, which arcs around a sheltered stretch of the Gulf. For decades families from Dammam, Al Khobar and Dhahran have come here to swim, picnic and camp.

The bay is lined with public beaches, beach resorts and chalet compounds, and the desert behind it is used for dune driving and quad biking.

Tour plans

Beach day at Half Moon Bay

Full day

  1. Step 1: Early drive south

    Leave Al Khobar early to beat the heat and the traffic.

  2. Step 2: Beach morning

    Swim and relax at a public beach or a resort.

  3. Step 3: Dunes in the afternoon

    Try a quad bike or dune drive as it cools down.

  4. Step 4: Sunset and seafood

    Watch the sunset over the bay, then head back for a seafood dinner.

Map

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Travel information

Best time to visit

October to April for swimming and beach days; in summer the water is very warm and the sun fierce — go early morning or evening.

How to get there

Drive about 40 minutes to an hour south of Al Khobar via the Dhahran area and the coast road. Use a hire car, taxi or ride-hailing car (arrange your return, as cars can be scarce out there).

Getting around

A car is needed to move between the public beaches and resorts along the bay.

Travel tips

  • Dress modestly on public beaches; many resorts allow swimwear inside their own grounds.
  • Bring shade, water and sunscreen — there is little shelter.
  • Dune driving needs a suitable vehicle and experience; go with someone who knows the area.
  • Dress modestly in public: for men and women, clothes that cover the shoulders and knees; women are not required to wear an abaya or cover their hair, but loose clothing is expected. Some shops and small businesses close briefly at each of the five daily prayer times, and on Friday many open only after the midday prayer. The weekend is Friday and Saturday.

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