Tarut Island
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 Tarout Island
Location of Tarout Island in Saudi Arabia
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Qatif, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia |
| Coordinates | 26°34′16″N 50°03′22″E / 26.571°N 50.056°ECoordinates: 26°34′16″N 50°03′22″E / 26.571°N 50.056°E |
| Area | 12.355 sq mi (32.00 km2) |
| Administration | |
| Governor | Khaled Alsufean |
| Mayor | Abdelhalim Kedar |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 77,757 (2010) |
Tārūt Island (Arabic: جزيرة تاروت) is an island in the Persian Gulf belonging to the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, connected by two causeways to Qatif. It is six kilometers from the coast, and is the longest island in the Persian Gulf after Qeshm Island, extending from Ra’s Tannurah in the north to Qatif in the west. The island has an area of 70 square kilometers, and a population (2010) of 77,757. It contains a number of towns and villages, including Tārūt itself, Deyrah, and Darīn.
Tarout history dates back to pre-5000 BC. It is considered as one of the most ancient sites that were inhabited by humans, as well as one of the oldest areas along the Arabian Peninsula .
Tarout was the heart of Dilmun Kingdom and had a major role in the history of the region since 3000 BC. Human habitation in this area over the centuries was very large and archaeological discoveries were found until recently, which is rare in most parts of the world's archaeological sites.
The Island had a significant role in trade activity in the entire Persian Gulf region. It was a central point for trade between Mesopotamia and along the coastal areas in the east of the Arabian Peninsula. Its strong relationships with many of the urbanized areas along the region were well known.
The ancient Arabic name for the place was apparently 'Ishtarut (عشتروت); in the Greek Geographia of Ptolemy it is called Tharrō (θαρρώ); on a map Ptolemy’s Geographia published in Latin in 1578 it appears as Tharro. Ishtarut or Ashtaroot, which means (love and war god), as was believed by the Babylonians, the Canaanites and Phoenicians.
In the Middle Ages the island was often called Dairin or Daryn, for one of its cities.; Darīn is actually the name of its main harbor, and there have also been more modern attempts to rename it Darīn. The Treaty of Darin was signed on the island in 1915 between Ibn Saud and the United Kingdom.
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