Thinking about your next holiday destination? Somewhere rich in culture and beautiful welcoming city, discover Jeddah.
The historic crossroads of pilgrims and traders, and the traditional gateway to Mecca, Jeddah is the most fascinating os Saudi Arabia’s major cities, with a cosmopolitan and liberal air not present anywhere else in the Kingdom. You will love the city’s World Heritage Red Sea architecture, its bustling soul, the laid-back coastline that’s home to fantastic dive sites, and its diverse, world-class cuisine.
Jeddah is an incredibly beautiful port city, a popular beach resort and world-renowned center of pilgrimage. Al-Balad district is considered the oldest part of the city. First buildings in its territory began to appear as early as in the 5th century. Today tourists have a unique opportunity to see beautiful buildings and palaces of different epochs. Such a huge number of places of interest is impossible to find in any other city of the country. Among the buildings located in the historic quarter you will find many buildings made of coral blocks that are traditional for Saudi Arabia. These unique buildings are protected by state and are of a great cultural value.
Jeddah is home to more than 3.5 million residents and is considered the westernmost gateway to the Islamic holy cities Mecca and Medina. Jeddah remains a safe and dynamic destination where tourists can learn about history that dates back to biblical days amidst new-age entertainment and modern attractions.
One of the most popular tourist attractions in Jeddah is King Fahd's Fountain, the tallest fountain of its kind in the world. The fountain blasts a stream of water from the Red Sea into the air to a maximum height of over 800 feet. The fountain was donated to the city of Jeddah by King Fahd, hence its name. It was constructed between 1980 and 1983 and was launched in 1985. Although the age of the fountain is more than 30 years, he is not only surprised by the impressive shape, but also by the technical characteristics. Every second, 18.8 tons of water are found above the fountain, which is pushed out of the only powerful nozzle. The speed at which the water swells itself is 375 km an hour. Since the fountain is located near the Persian Gulf and works with the salty water, its operation is made considerably more difficult.
As early as 1987, the experts noted that the fountain construction was damaged by the corrosion and the fountain itself was on the verge of destruction. The steel pipes of the fountain have been replaced by the shortest deadlines and are complemented by special anode protection, which prevents corrosion and allows millions of people from all over the world to graze on the highest fountains on earth.
The summer heat can be pretty intense in Jeddah so most people prefer to spend as much of their time in air-conditioned indoor areas as possible. This may be why malls are such an integral part of this city’s culture. They’re so much more than just places where you can shop.
Red Sea Mall, for instance, features a history section that has traditional decorations and paintings of historical Saudi figures as well as boutiques that sell local items and dresses.
In 2018, Red Sea Mall has won several awards in the GCC, Africa, & Middle East Business Excellence Awards. Some of the Awards that has won are: Red Sea Mall Cup, ICSC Foundation Award, The Best Shopping Center of the Year for the ITAAM project that was aimed at reducing the waste of food and utilization of the leftover, non-used food by distributing it to the needy, the productive families campaign, & much more.
Like many other major metropolitan cities of the globe, Jeddah features safe tourist and business neighborhoods. Travellers who stick to the main areas of tourism in Jeddah will have no problem enjoying a safe holiday in Saudi Arabia.