images from tabuk - four more cards

The Saudis wear their headdresses in many styles, some to do with fashion, some for practicality. These guys were very willing to show me some of the variations. Another card could be easily filled with more styles!









The Hijaz railway ran from Damascus to Medina and we have followed it from Tabuk to Al Ula (close to Madain Saleh). These images are just a few of the shots taken of still in-tact railway carts, buildings and an engine. Some lie in the desert, some pieces in a small saudi-style outdoor museum. 

Saudi is very much drowning in household rubbish. When you first arrive its a bit of a shock, then it becomes the norm. Here are just a few examples of the distribution and collection. The man with the bike will likely sell cardboard or plastics he has collected. The man sitting down in the green uniform in the back of the rubbish truck has his hand on a child's buggy. It is possible he has reclaimed it from his rubbish collection rounds to send back to his own child in his country, a child he might not have yet seen or see for several years.

Although the Saudis are not too worried about how the rubbish looks they do like fantastical roundabouts! Here is a giant hand holding wheat, a pomegranate (known locally as pineapple roundabout as that's what it looks like), coffee pots, a lightning aircraft, a tank, more wheat, an octopus with tentacles curled around prey and two other unidentified designs!

"images from tabuk" are a selection of photographs taken by Sarah Heaney during her time living in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. These images below are currently available in the form of cards. 


The cards below are available individually, but cards can be also personalised for customers, either with photographs already taken by Sarah or by arranging a photography session with her and the having the cards designed.


It is not only cards that are available, prints and photobooks are also available on request. 


Contact Sarah at sarahlheaney@hotmail.com for more info.




These images were taken along the Sharma coast, about 250 km West of Tabuk where expats often spend wonderful weekends camping, diving, eating and chilling out!

The people of Tabuk have fascinating clothes, dress and faces. A plethora of Asian races abound.

The desert is not all about dunes, it is dry and hard in places, odd shapes have been carved by the sun and wind. The sand colours range from white to red and many plants manage to survive

This card shows, amongst others, cars that have been abandoned in the desert. Like animal carcasses bleached by the sun they are left to deteriorate in the desert, bit missing, often torched (for fun, who knows). They are scattered, randomly, along roadsides.

When you first arrive it is odd to see camels, but after a while they become as common as once seeing sheep or cows was. They are used for racing, eating, milking and probably many other uses I don't know of. 

Some shots of wildlife taken on the compound, the bird was taken at the beach.

The camel racing track is about 40 kms from Tabuk. The races are not advertised to well and to find out when one is happening can be like striking gold. But the practicing happens all year round, in the morning and evening and one can make a fantastic couple of hours watching the spectacle. The guys love to be photographed!

Another set of activities available to those who want to try biking or kite boarding.