Jeddah City

Jeddah City is a Saudi city that is a gateway to the Two Holy Mosques and a station through which cultures have passed, and its economic and tourism standing keeps pace with this historic role. [1] Its history spans more than 1,400 years, and within its boundaries lies Historic Jeddah, inscribed on the World Heritage List of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2014. [1][2]

Jeddah has been linked to the Hajj since the seventh century AH, when the Caliph Uthman ibn Affan made it the official port of Makkah, so it became a gateway for pilgrims arriving by sea, and this close association gave it a cosmopolitan population. [2] Its history spans more than 1,400 years, making it a station through which cultures have passed. [1]

The site of Historic Jeddah, the Gate to Makkah, was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2014 under three criteria of Outstanding Universal Value — (ii), (iv) and (vi). It occupies an area of 17.92 hectares with a buffer zone of 113.58 hectares, and carries dossier number 1361 and the coordinates N21 29 2 / E39 11 15. [2]

Twelve years had passed since that inscription by June 2026, as the historic town reflects the exchange of human values and of building materials and architectural methods across the Red Sea region, as well as its historic role as a centre of trade and the Hajj. [3]

The architectural style of the historic town rests on tower houses decorated with large wooden roshan built in the late nineteenth century CE by its merchant elite, together with low coral-stone houses, mosques, ribats, souqs and small squares that form an integrated urban fabric. [2]

This architecture reflected the flourishing of sea trade in the Indian Ocean after the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 and the entry of steamships that linked Europe with India and Asia — a prosperity that enriched merchants and led to the development of souqs and mosques. [2]

His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, launched the master plan and main features of the Jeddah Central Project, with total investments of up to 75 billion riyals allocated to developing 5.7 million square metres. [4] The project aims to generate added value of 47 billion riyals for the Kingdom's economy by 2030, and includes four major global landmarks — an opera house, a museum, a sports stadium, and marine basins and coral farms — in addition to ten quality entertainment and tourism projects. [4]

Jeddah Central Development Company, which the Public Investment Fund established in 2019, is carrying out the project in three phases, the first of which will be completed by the end of 2027. [4] The project's components include modern residential districts with 17,000 housing units, hotel projects providing more than 2,700 rooms, and a waterfront with a 9.5 km water strip and a 2.1 km sandy beach, while green spaces, open areas and public services make up 40% of its area. [4]

The antiquities project in the Historic Jeddah area was launched in Jumada al-Awwal 1441 AH, corresponding to January 2020, and began with a geophysical survey of four historic sites: the Uthman ibn Affan Mosque, the Al-Shona site, parts of the northern wall, and the Al-Kadwa area. [5] Excavations at Al-Shona revealed a fortified building whose construction is believed to date to between the ninth and tenth centuries AH (the 15th and 16th centuries CE) in the Mamluk era. [5]

His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, directed support for a project to restore 56 dilapidated buildings in Historic Jeddah at a cost of 50 million riyals as a first phase, and some of its houses carry archaeological features more than 500 years old. [6] This support comes within a wider project to conserve historic buildings in line with UNESCO requirements and the targets of Saudi Vision 2030. [6]

Jeddah Islamic Port is the largest of the Kingdom's ports on the Red Sea and one of the pivotal ports in container handling, and private-sector investment in it through commercial assignment contracts has exceeded 4 billion riyals. [8] In 2007 the port handled more than three million one hundred thousand standard containers and dealt with more than six hundred thousand passengers and 4,850 commercial vessels, and the third container terminal is being built with a handling capacity of up to 1.5 million standard containers. [8]

King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah recorded more than 49.1 million passengers during 2024, a growth rate of 14% over the previous year, more than 278,000 flights, an increase of 11%, and 47.1 million bags, an increase of 21% — the highest annual operational figure in the history of Saudi airports. [7] Jeddah Transportation Company launched two new routes in the Jeddah bus network — Route 15 along Prince Sultan Road and Route 16 linking the Jeddah Corniche with Prince Faisal bin Fahd Road — as part of expanding public transport services and improving mobility for the city's residents and visitors in line with the targets of Saudi Vision 2030. [11]

The Jeddah waterfront is distinguished by its unique architectural design, which has made it an ideal venue for major entertainment events; it hosts the Jeddah Corniche Circuit for Formula 1 and various sports tournaments, and includes restaurants, cafés, shops and year-round events, with stunning natural views of Jeddah, the Bride of the Red Sea. [9]

The management of Jeddah Season 2024 announced the launch of its events under the slogan "Anew" in the Jeddah Art Promenade area located within the Jeddah waterfront, including a range of entertainment, cultural, sports and tourism experiences. [10]

Q: What is the historic role of Jeddah City? A: It is a gateway to the Two Holy Mosques; the Caliph Uthman ibn Affan made it the official port of Makkah in the seventh century AH, and its history spans more than 1,400 years. [1][2]

Q: When was Historic Jeddah inscribed on the World Heritage List? A: It was inscribed in 2014 under three criteria of Outstanding Universal Value, and twelve years had passed since its inscription by June 2026. [2][3]

Q: What are the main landmarks of the Jeddah Central Project? A: Four major global landmarks — an opera house, a museum, a sports stadium, and marine basins and coral farms — together with ten quality entertainment and tourism projects. [4]

Q: What does the Jeddah waterfront offer most notably? A: A unique architectural design that hosts major events, and includes the Jeddah Corniche Circuit for Formula 1, restaurants, cafés, shops and year-round events. [9]

Q: What were the operational figures at King Abdulaziz International Airport in 2024? A: More than 49.1 million passengers with 14% growth, more than 278,000 flights, and 47.1 million bags. [7]

Jeddah City combines its role as a gateway to the Two Holy Mosques and its economic and tourism standing with its world heritage in Historic Jeddah and the modern development projects of Jeddah Central and its waterfront. [1][4][9] Related topics on the platform include Historic Jeddah, Makkah Region, Riyadh City, and Jeddah Season.