History of Jeddah

The history of Jeddah is the history of a city on the eastern shore of the Red Sea, which from the seventh century CE became a major port on Indian Ocean trade routes, carrying goods through it to Makkah.[1]

Historic Jeddah holds more than 650 heritage buildings, five historic main markets, historic mosques and one historic school, and was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2014.[2][1]

Jeddah's historic area stretches across 2.5 square kilometres on the eastern shore of the Red Sea in Makkah Region, and is considered the oldest part of Jeddah.[2]

Its geographical position makes it a meeting point for world trade routes between Asia and Africa and a centre of cultural and economic exchange, and from the seventh century CE it became a major port for pilgrims coming to Makkah.[2]

Historic Jeddah held a symbolic role as a gate to Makkah for Muslim pilgrims arriving by sea, when the third Caliph, Uthman ibn Affan, made it the official port of Makkah.[1]

Tall tower houses decorated with large wooden roshans define the architectural style of Historic Jeddah, among the examples of Hejazi architecture on the Red Sea coast, built by leading merchants in the late nineteenth century CE.[1]

Some of the area's buildings, which are owned by Jeddah families, contain archaeological features more than 500 years old.[3]

Historic Jeddah was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2014 under criteria (ii)(iv)(vi), with a property area of 17.92 hectares and a buffer zone of 113.58 hectares.[1]

In 2024 the Historic Jeddah Program of the Ministry of Culture marked ten years since the inscription, within its efforts to revive the area, preserve its cultural and urban legacy and turn it into a world heritage destination in line with Saudi Vision 2030.[2]

In 2021, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, announced the launch of the "Revival of Historic Jeddah" project, which aims to develop the living environment of the area so that it becomes an attractive centre for business and cultural projects and a leading destination for entrepreneurs.[3]

On 18 Ramadan 1445 AH, corresponding to 28 March 2024, the Ministry of Culture, represented by the Historic Jeddah Program, announced the completion of work in a project to support and rescue 56 buildings threatened with collapse in Historic Jeddah, which carry rich architectural and heritage elements.[3]

The project drew support of SAR 50 million from the private expenditure of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.[3]

Archaeological studies at the Uthman ibn Affan Mosque in Historic Jeddah uncovered hundreds of remains of archaeological material, some of which date back about 1,200 years.[4]

The mihrab of the mosque and its floor area have remained as they are for more than a thousand years, and the building in its present form was established in the fourteenth century AH, that is, the late twentieth century CE, with successive restoration work belonging to the traditional architectural style.[4]

The Red Sea Museum opened in the heart of Historic Jeddah, inside the historic Bab Al-Bunt building, which was restored to the highest environmental sustainability standards.[5]

More than a thousand archaeological and artistic pieces are displayed there across seven themes in twenty-three halls.[5]

Jeddah's old waterfront served as a main route for pilgrims, and it will be rebuilt to tell visitors to the area the story of the Hajj since the dawn of Islam.[3]

At its session held in Jeddah on 14 April 2026, the Council of Ministers approved a two-year extension of the term of the Historic Jeddah project program.[6]

Q: Where is Historic Jeddah located? A: On the eastern shore of the Red Sea, stretching across 2.5 square kilometres.[1][2]

Q: When did Jeddah become a port for Makkah? A: In the seventh century CE, when Caliph Uthman ibn Affan made it the official port of Makkah.[1]

Q: When was Historic Jeddah inscribed on the World Heritage List? A: In 2014, under criteria (ii)(iv)(vi).[1]

Q: What are the most prominent features of the architectural style in Historic Jeddah? A: Tall tower houses decorated with large wooden roshans, built by leading merchants in the late nineteenth century CE.[1]

Q: What is the Revival of Historic Jeddah project? A: A project launched in 2021 to develop the living environment of the area and make it an attractive centre for business and cultural projects.[3]

The history of Jeddah brings together its role as a maritime gate to Makkah and its commercial position on the Red Sea, along with continuous official care that renews the area through the revival project, the support of heritage buildings and the opening of the Red Sea Museum.[3][5]