Jeddah is another of Saudi Arabia’s largest seacoast cities. It lies on the Red Sea and combines ancient civilisation, tradition, and modern architecture. This city receives special attention because it is considered an honoured gate of the Islamic world, the entrance to Makkah.
However, many other aspects can be associated with Jeddah, but religion is one of the primary factors. The following are ten lesser-known facts that make Jeddah a city worth understanding.
The Red Sea’s Bride
Jeddah has the nickname ‘’The Bride of the Red Sea. This name affirms that Jeddah is located on the shores of the Red Sea and has beautiful beaches. A corniche in this city is a boulevard along the coast and is a favourite of residents and tourists. This corniche is not just a simple pathway but a living and commercial one with parks, recreational areas, cafes, restaurants, and more. One can just stroll, sit lazily on the grass, and watch the sunset on the horizon over the Red Sea. The place is particularly marvellous with the background of beautiful sceneries and gentle sea breeze, the corniche provides a good place for relaxation. As things keep changing, we expect more exciting things to see in 2025.
This is even more enhanced by the fact that the Red Sea is well-known for its clear waters and rich marine life, making Jeddah a perfect vacation destination for diving and snorkelling activities. Beautiful corals and a variety of tropical fish and marine animals are present around the island for any underwater adventure. This epithet ‘‘Bride of the Red Sea,’’ perfectly describes Jeddah and its importance as a portal to one of the most striking bodies of water in the world.
The World’s Tallest Flagpole
It may also interest the reader to know that the tallest flagpole in the world is located in Jeddah and measures 171 metres. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia flag is flying all over this colossal building that towers over the skyline of Riyadh City; it is located on King Abdullah Square. The flagpole was erected on Saudi National Day, 23/9/2014. It has since become a symbol of pride and might for the people of Saudi Arabia and a representation of their unity. All of these are interesting; if you are a Muslim and don’t have time this year to explore these places, you can simply go for advanced booking of Umrah packages 2025, and you can customise your plan to explore Jeddah along with performing Umrah. Nothing could be more interesting than this for you.
The flagpole towering high and the colossal flag that it holds is something to marvel at, and when at night one gets to see it all lit up, the beauty that it possesses is just immeasurable. To erect the flagpole, engineering practices and the use of material are employed to support and withstand viole, hurricanes, and other unfavourable conditions. These include a well-maintained park around the base of the flagpole where people, including the locals and visitors, converge. It is not just a sign of patriotism but a structure that has become a reference point to some of the changes and developments happening in Jeddah.
Historical Al-Balad District
Al-Balad is the historical part of Jeddah and an area listed as a part of the World Heritage Programme by UNESCO. Al Baladi is the oldest and was constructed around the 7th century; it is famous for its tight corridors, native houses, and souks. The name Al-Balad in Arabic can be translated as ‘The Town’; it originated as a fishing village and later developed into a great seaport. For centuries, trade and commerce within its geographical area have been of significant importance.
Roshan, the old coral-stone buildings, and the wooden latticed windows of the houses still found in some parts of Jeddah give others a view of the city’s architectural history. These buildings were made of coral from the Red Sea and bear the style of architecture of the region. Many such structures have been renovated, and many of them are in their original appearance so that the tourists can genuinely get a feel of old Jeddah. But as it is growing fast, we are expecting more extraordinary work in 2025 in Jeddah which will surely be going to shock the world.
Passing through the historical area of Al-Balad, one can stroll through shops such as spice, textile, and jewel shops situated in the numerous narrow streets of the city. Souks are vibrant in colours; they clinically engage all the senses while moving through the bazaars. Al-Balad not only represents a historical area but also is an open gallery of the cultural identity of Jeddah.
Gateway to Makkah
Jeddah equally serves as home for millions of KSA’s pilgrims through the holy city of Makkah. King AbdulAziz International Airport in the city of Jeddah acts as one of the busiest gateways when it comes to the conveyance of the haji and umm rather. It is because during the Hajj season the population of the city triples as people from different countries transit through the city when going for the pilgrimage.
There exists what is referred to as the Hajj and Umrah terminal, which is one of the biggest worldwide; this terminal is strictly for pilgrims. Doesn’t matter where you are coming from; you need to stay in Jeddah for a while and then go forward. For example, if you are from Manchester, you can get Manchester Umrah packages with custom options (Jeddah Tour) from any well-reputed travel agency to explore more about Jeddah.
Thus, Jeddah makes perfect sense as a transit city for pilgrims due to its connectivity and infrastructure. Some services and facilities offered include transport within the city, recreational and hotel facilities for the pilgrims, and a well-established healthcare delivery system. The distance between Jeddah and Makkah is not long, thus enabling the pilgrims to move to the holy city quickly.
However, the prominence of Jeddah as the entrance to Makkah is not limited to transport only. The city also has hospitality and service values through millions of visitors who visit the city annually. The pilgrimage is one of the holiest calls for Muslims, and Jeddah is one of the cities that plays a vital role in providing shelter to people who want to achieve this critical religious duty.
Jeddah’s Floating Mosque
Among the most notable sights of Jeddah is the Floating Mosque, officially named Al Rahma Mosque. The mosque is actually on the shores of the Red Sea and is raised on pillars so that it seems to be floating on water, especially when the tide is high. This fascinating architectural design adds a pleasing aesthetic when the water comes, and the mosque seems to dance on the water.
The Al Rahma Mosque, also known as Fatimah Al Zahra Mosque, is one of the famous tourist attractions because of its beauty and worshipping place. It is located in a beautiful environment, which has made most visitors and residents make it their preferred destination. It also encompasses a mixture of modern and Islamic architectural shapes, with the exterior façade facing in white, though the interior is superbly done.
The peaceful environment of the mosque is accompanied by the sound of the sea waves, which promote silent prayer, and the cool sea breeze, which makes it a peaceful environment to pray. The Floating Mosque is a mosque and a landmark of the architectural and natural attractiveness of Jeddah and its integration.
The Jeddah Tower
Jeddah is next in line to set a record through the Jeddah Tower, which intends to be the tallest building in the world. When finished, it will stand above 1,000 metres (3,280 ft) and top even the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. The tower is a component of the Jeddah Economic City, a futuristic plan that goes well with the new skyline and improved economy in Jeddah.
Kingdom Tower or Jeddah Tower project, also known as a three-helix or spiral building project, was designed by the architectural designer Adrian Smith for the skyscraper Burj Khalifa of Dubai. This tower will provide modern facilities such as residential places, working spaces, a hotel, and a place that offers a magnificent view of the city and the Red Sea. Regarding aesthetics, there is a combination of engineering and climatic resilience in the tower’s construction.
The King Fahd Fountain
The King Fahd Fountain is another record-breaking feature in Jeddah, the tallest fountain in the world. This ‘The Lovers’ fountain sprays water up to 312 metres high; the water is visible from various areas in the city. The King Fahd Fountain, now commonly referred to as the Jeddah Fountain, was donated to the city by King Fahd bin Abdulaziz in 1985. It employs sea water from the Red Sea instead of fresh water, a relatively rare feature for fountains of such scale.
Thus, seeing the fountain brightened by hundreds of lights in the evening is nothing like that. The fountain’s waters are thrown up very high, and the play of reflections of the lamps densely placed around the fountain attracts visitors to the Jeddah Corniche from various angles of vision. This fountain has also become quite popular and is now seen as an embodiment of Jeddah’s modernity against its conservative background.
Cultural Melting Pot
It was good, as described, to have many subcultures within it due to the melting of cultures in the city of Jeddah. Given that it is among the most significant ports and the gate to the Islamic countries in the world, it has been a home to all sorts of people for centuries. Thus, it is pluralistic regarding cuisine, language, and customs, contributing to the city’s colour, where different cultures intertwine. The restaurants and markets in Jeddah present a diverse range of Global Foods from the Middle East to Asia and worldwide.
However, cultural fairs like the Jeddah Summer Festival feature different cultural troupes in music and dance, artefacts, and performances exhibiting the internals of the different cultures. There is clear evidence of the impact of various cultures in some of the architecture, for instance, the buildings with Islamic and modern architecture. It will be noted that the citizens of Jeddah are very friendly and receptive, so every guest from any part of the world will be welcome in this city.
The Jeddah Corniche
Jeddah Corniche is a 30-kilometre-wide stretch of shoreline in a recreational city by the sea. Some attractions include a park, beach, sculpture, leisure facility, and other amenities. The Corniche is divided into three main sections: The promenade is divided into the North Corniche, Central Corniche, and South Corniche. Every part has its attractions and beauty.
While most of the north is devoted to good landscaping and public sculpture. It also houses Al Amwaj Park, a popular recreational area for families because of its playground, open space for picnicking, and walking areas. Adjoining the Central Corniche, which includes the cultural sites and landmark; King Fahd Fountain. South Corniche is famous for its clean sandy coastline, and sports receptive structures for water sports that have made recreational activities such as sunbathing, swimming, and snorkelling popular.
Another area in the Corniche has many restaurants and cafes where you can have a meal or coffee with a view of the Red Sea. This is the best place for families to come and have barbecues and picnics by the seashore while enjoying other recreational activities.
Thriving Art Scene
Jeddah is actively developing art, with many galleries, museums, sculptures, and paintings on the buildings and streets. This city can thus be rightly called the art capital of Saudi Arabia. Today, Jeddah has several art institutions: Athr Gallery, specialising in contemporary art. Works of Saudi and foreign artists are presented there.
The Jeddah Sculpture Museum is an outdoor museum along the city’s Corniche featuring sculptures of internationally acclaimed artists. The open-air art gallery is home to over 400 sculptures; thus, one of the most significant sculpture galleries in the world. There are abstracts and ones that depict Saudi Arabian culture.
Conclusion
Over the years, Jeddah has had the unique characteristic of coherently integrating designs of oldish and new styles into the city. It has just as exciting history, classics, and architecture as New York and a more diverse and interesting culture. Fascinated by the religious values of Islam, historical and modern architectural masterpieces, or amazingly diverse culture: for everyone, there is something to see in Jeddah. The following are just ten facts that, indeed, are proof of Jeddah’s absolute uniqueness and enough reason to visit.
Jeddah boasts a historical past, a beautiful seascape, and a thrilling social life that set it apart. Stretching as tall as the Jeddah Tower or as calm as the Floating Mosque, the city has it all for visitors and inhabitants. With progress going onward, Jeddah still holds its historical values and is distinctively a city that invests in the future, it’s part of the Red Sea.
