Discover Jeddah's Rich History and Heritage Through Its Historic District
It is no exaggeration to say that Historic Jeddah is an "open-air museum" that brings together Saudi Arabia's past and present. On entering Al-Balad, visitors feel as if they are living in the past, surrounded by alleys, mosques, houses and khans dating back centuries.
The buildings of the old city were laid out along narrow streets linking all four directions to make use of the sea breeze and reduce the effects of high temperatures and intense humidity. As the leading port of the Arabian Peninsula on the Red Sea, the city is home to many historic landmarks, heritage shops and historic quarters.
Jeddah's Historic Sites
Historic Jeddah within the walls is divided into seven main areas: Harat Al-Mazloum, Harat Al-Sham, Harat Al-Yemen, Harat Al-Bahr, Al-Balad (Jeddah's oldest district), Harat Al-Ruwais and Harat Al-Karantina.
It is also home to Jeddah's famous historic khans, such as Khan Al-Hunud, Khan Al-Qasabah, Khan Al-Dallalin and Khan Al-Attarin.
The Jeddah city wall, built during the reign of the Mamluk Sultan Qansuh al-Ghuri, is one of the city's most prominent landmarks, reflecting the beauty of Saudi history. It once featured several towers and gates, but large sections were removed over past decades, leaving only a restored portion that welcomes visitors at the entrance to the city.
Historic Jeddah on the World Heritage List
Restoration and reconstruction work in Jeddah takes care not to affect the city's cultural, heritage and environmental character, making it a global tourist destination.
On June 21, 2014, Historic Jeddah was inscribed on the World Heritage List of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Jeddah welcomes millions of people every year from inside and outside the Kingdom for a variety of reasons, including Hajj and Umrah, work, tourism and leisure.
Jeddah lies about 949 kilometers from the capital, Riyadh, 79 kilometers from Makkah and 420 kilometers from Madinah.