ruad

Ruad, known in English as Arwad, is a small Mediterranean island off the western coast of Syria, near the port city of Tartus. The island hosts a long-standing settlement and is notable for its archaeological remains, which reflect a history stretching back to antiquity.

Historically, Ruad was the site of the Phoenician city of Arados (also rendered Aradus in Greek and Latin), a significant trading post and fortress in ancient times. The island and its city figure prominently in classical and Near Eastern sources as a center of maritime activity and defense. Over the centuries it came under the control of successive powers, including Hellenistic kingdoms, the Roman and Byzantine empires, Islamic rulers, and the Crusaders. The remains on the island include fortifications and structures that bear the marks of multiple periods, with a Crusader-era fortress occupying a vantage point atop earlier foundations.

In the modern era, Ruad remains inhabited and is connected to the Syrian mainland by a short ferry service from Tartus. The local economy centers on fishing and small-scale trade, with visits from researchers and, to a limited extent, tourists drawn to the fortress ruins and coastal scenery. The island’s historic layerings—from Phoenician to Crusader to Islamic periods—continue to attract archeological interest and contribute to understanding the broader maritime history of the eastern Mediterranean.

See also: Ar wad Fortress; Arados.