The NEOM Underwater Archaeological Surveys in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba, Saudi Arabia

The NEOM underwater archaeological surveys conducted in north-western Saudi Arabia represent the first systematic survey in the Red Sea. Using a methodology based primarily on diver inspections, the project documented 65 artefact scatters, eight pre-19th-century shipwrecks, and two harbours. Two shipwrecks are especially significant: one, dating to 4th–7th centuries CE, shows an exceptionally preserved cargo, and another dating to the 15th century, is unique for this period. These discoveries provide important insights into sailing routes, harbour systems, and trade from the earliest centuries CE to the 19th century, while allowing for the evaluation of underwater survey methods in the Red Sea.