Hejazi Architecture

Hejazi architecture is a Saudi architectural style associated with the coastal areas on the Red Sea, and it is included in the Saudi Architecture Map launched by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister on 16 March 2025, which comprises 19 architectural styles inspired by the geographic and cultural characteristics of the Kingdom. [1]

The Hejazi coastal architecture is one of these styles; it covers the settlements located on the Red Sea coast in Jeddah, Yanbu, and Al-Qunfudhah, and it reflects the cultural and craft influences linked to trade and the Hajj. [3]

This attention comes within the framework of celebrating the urban legacy, enhancing quality of life, and developing the urban landscape in Saudi cities, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. [1]

The rawshan stands out on the facade of the Hejazi house as the projecting wooden covering of the windows and external openings; it is made of fine wood, adorned with Islamic carvings and calm earthy colours, and given bends that serve an important function in ventilation. [5]

The rawshan is divided into three types. The "musmat" is a wooden cladding extending from the top of the house down to its foundation and ground-floor door, whose windows contain rectangular or arched forms filled with carved iron bars, and it is distinguished by the absence of projecting carvings. The "bariz" is distinguished by more complex geometric ornamentation and carvings, is often used above house entrances, and consists of connected wooden units covering the entire upper surface or of separate vertical units appearing on each floor. The third type, the "rawshan with a balcony", differs in its formations and uses from one house to another. [6]

The rawasheen contain the "mashrabiyyat", the projecting part of the rawshan, used to cool the house through the evaporation of water; when dry air enters through the openings of the rawshan and passes over the water, it turns into cool breezes, one of the smart methods of Islamic architecture in dealing with the climate. [7]

The craft of the rawasheen dates back to the late sixth century AH, its purpose being to moderate temperatures through a design that allows air to pass into the house. [8]

In the construction of the Hejazi house, kashur stone, or manqab limestone, was used as a basic material; it is coral limestone brought from the Red Sea shore, it protects the house from cold and heat and absorbs the humidity of the air, and a lime gypsum plaster is used with it to prevent the erosion of the stone caused by moisture throughout the year. [12]

This integrates with elements of natural ventilation; some houses include wall recesses called "malqaf al-hawa" to temper the weather, and these are a preferred seat for the family in summer. Such houses are known for an annex to the reception room called the "makhlawan". [13]

Beit Nassif contains 40 rooms, the staircase was built to allow easy ascent to the four floors, and at its base there is a cistern in which rainwater collects. [13]

Beit Nassif is one of the historic houses built in the heart of Historic Jeddah more than 145 years ago on an area of 900 square metres; it consists of four floors, and the Founder King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud stayed in it in 1344 AH. [10]

The inclusion of the Historic Jeddah area in the UNESCO World Heritage List was announced on 23 Sha'ban 1435 AH, corresponding to 21 June 2014, reflecting the State's efforts to protect and develop the heritage of the area. [11]

The house combines the solidity of local construction with the diversity of its architectural elements, and it stands as a witness to a stage of Hejazi architecture linked to trade and the Hajj on the Red Sea coast. [10]

Al-Shafi'i Mosque is located in Harat Al-Mazloum in Jeddah, was built in the seventeenth century CE, and was designed open to obtain good, unique ventilation. [9]

In its construction, sea mud and manqab stone were used, and its elements were reinforced with wood, making it a model of the diversity of local materials in Hejazi architecture. [9]

In Taif, the blending of Riyadh stone with traditional Hejazi architecture has been evident since 1975, and its buildings have retained balconies, parapets, coloured glass, and green tiles, alongside the men's sitting room, the women's sitting room, and the maqlat. [14]

The stone buildings of Taif vary with the nature of the terrain, and they are found in the highlands of Al-Shafa, Al-Hada, the Sarawat mountains, and the historic villages located along the valleys and mountain slopes. [15]

These buildings were constructed from local stones in precise geometric forms, with wood used in the ceilings and windows, which gave them durability and the ability to adapt to the mountain climate over hundreds of years. [15]

The Jeddah Municipality announced the mandatory application of the design guidelines for Hejazi coastal architecture to new residential building permits and to all requests to restore the facades of residential buildings across the city, after their implementation began in May 2026, with non-compliance violations added to the municipal violations penalty schedule. [4]

The Saudi Architecture Map is expected to contribute more than 8 billion riyals to cumulative gross domestic product and to provide more than 34,000 direct and indirect job opportunities in the engineering, construction, and urban development sectors by 2030. [2]

Linked to the contemporary presence of Hejazi architecture is that the design of the official logo of the Arabian Gulf Cup "Gulf 27" in Jeddah was inspired by the historic rawasheen, its elements interlocking to form the shape of the tournament cup, and its identity drew colours from the Kingdom and the city of Jeddah and the turquoise tones associated with the sea. [16]

Q: What is Hejazi architecture? A: A Saudi architectural style associated with the coastal areas on the Red Sea; it covers the settlements in Jeddah, Yanbu, and Al-Qunfudhah, and reflects the cultural and craft influences linked to trade and the Hajj. [3]

Q: What is the rawshan? A: The projecting wooden covering of the windows and external openings of the Hejazi house, adorned with Islamic carvings and calm earthy colours. [5]

Q: What are the types of the rawasheen? A: The musmat, the bariz, and the rawshan with a balcony. [6]

Q: When was Historic Jeddah inscribed on the World Heritage List? A: On 23 Sha'ban 1435 AH, corresponding to 21 June 2014. [11]

Q: What are the most prominent building materials in the Hejazi house? A: Kashur stone, or manqab limestone, with lime gypsum plaster, and wood is used in its elements. [12][9]