Historic Jeddah continued to strengthen its standing as one of the leading cultural and tourism destinations in the Kingdom and the world during 2025, through a series of achievements that supported the preservation of its architectural and historical heritage and stimulated economic and cultural activity in the district.

These achievements are part of an integrated vision led by the Ministry of Culture to revive the historic district and preserve its authentic identity, in line with the Saudi Vision 2030 goals of strengthening heritage sites and turning them into vibrant global destinations.

Over the past year the district saw projects and initiatives focused on preserving heritage buildings, developing public facilities and improving the urban landscape, while maintaining the unique architectural character of Historic Jeddah, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

On the economic side, development efforts led to the approval of more than 120 new investment opportunities, the addition of more than 850 businesses in the district and the creation of more than 10,000 jobs, boosting the district's vitality and supporting its economic sustainability.

In heritage conservation, 28 historic buildings were documented and studied, the number of buildings classified under the Antiquities, Museums and Urban Heritage Law reached 717, and restoration and rehabilitation programs covered 30 heritage buildings with a combined area of more than 24,000 square meters.

Archaeology also made notable progress: excavations uncovered more than 6,700 artifacts, work continued at 18 archaeological sites, and four new sites opened to visitors, drawing more than 12,500 visitors during the year.

These achievements reflect the scale of cooperation between local and international bodies in restoration and heritage conservation, along with greater community participation in the cultural events and programs the district hosted, supporting sustainable cultural and economic development and strengthening Historic Jeddah's standing as a global destination that unites the authenticity of the past with the ambitions of the future.

At a Glance

  • Location: Historic Jeddah
  • Supervising body: Ministry of Culture
  • Approved investment opportunities: more than 120
  • New businesses: more than 850
  • Jobs created: more than 10,000
  • Restored heritage buildings: 30
  • Classified heritage buildings: 717
  • Artifacts discovered: more than 6,700
  • Visitors to archaeological sites: more than 12,500
  • Status: UNESCO World Heritage site