- Destinations
- Middle East
- Saudi Arabia
- Jeddah
Jeddah
As the main point of entry, by air and sea, to Saudi Arabia, the
flashy city of Jeddah is more cosmopolitan than Saudi's capital,
Riyadh. Hundreds of thousands of Muslim pilgrims making the
traditional pilgrimage to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, just
a few hours away inland, pass through two enormous, futuristic
special terminals with a fibre-glass tent-shaped roof at the
international airport during the Hajj season. Other visitors are
few and far between, since Saudi Arabia has extremely strict entry
requirements and is 'blacklisted' as a terrorism hotspot by Britain
and the USA.
Those who do gain entry to this splendid modern metropolis are
rewarded with experiencing a city where luxury is the norm.
Fabulous seven-star palatial hotels give on to wide boulevards,
encircling the ancient central old city, Balad, filled with
colourful souks (bazaars) and mysterious medieval buildings built
of Red Sea coral. The Red Sea shoreline is lined with a seemingly
never-ending corniche, giving on to beautiful sandy beaches.
Jeddah's restaurants and shopping malls are legendary. One of the
unmissable sights in Jeddah is the King Fahd Fountain in the
harbour, which is spectacular at night when it sends illuminated
coloured jets of water 853 feet (260m) into the air.
Jeddah is named in honour of the Biblical Eve. 'Jadda' means
'grandmother' in the context of Eve, who according to legend is
buried near the historical old city, although the actual site of
the tomb is not marked by the Saudi Government.
Information & Facts
Climate
Jeddah features an arid climate, and unlike many other Saudi
Arabian cities, it retains its warmth during the winter months from
November to February. Summer temperatures see the mercury reaching
extreme temperatures, sometimes soaring above the 104F (40C) mark
in the afternoons and hovering around 86F (30C) in the mornings and
evenings. The summer months are punctuated with dust storms which
come from the Arabian Peninsula's deserts or from North Africa.
During the winter months rainfall in Jeddah is infrequent but is
most common in the month of December when winter thunderstorms are
also common.
Language
Arabic is the official language in Saudi Arabia, but
English is widely understood.
Money
The Saudi currency is the Riyal (SAR), divided into 100 halala.
Foreign currency can be changed at banks and exchange bureaux.
Banking hours are generally Saturday to Wednesday from 8am to 12pm
and 4pm to 8pm. All major credit cards are accepted at shops,
hotels and restaurants in Saudi Arabia. Travellers cheques are also
accepted and ATMs are widely available. There are no taxes in Saudi
Arabia, so shopping is good value.
Shopping
Shopping in Jeddah is a serious sport. As there aren't many
entertainment options for women in Saudi Arabia, shopping malls
have turned into 'destination malls': enormous structures with not
only hundreds of shops, but full-scale amusement parks, ice skating
rinks, and dozens of restaurants. The facilities are ultra-modern,
and most importantly completely air-conditioned, allowing both men
and women in Jeddah to beat the heat while they enjoy
themselves.
The newest and largest mall in Jeddah is the Mall of Arabia,
which has more than 330 shops, and a Snow Village where guests can
cool off and enjoy themselves in the snow. The mall has plenty of
entertainment for children as well, including puppet shows and
children's theatre. Other popular malls in Jeddah include the Red
Sea Mall, the Heraa International Mall, and Roshan Mall.
The selection of shops at the malls is huge, with many
international brands that visitors will recognise, including
Diesel, Nike, Banana Republic, Express, H&M, Lacoste, Marks
& Spencer, and Nine West. Luxury brands are also there in
abundance, including Versace, Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Chanel
and Armani. Most shops in Jeddah are open from 9 or 10am to 1pm,
and then from 5pm to 10pm.
For a more authentic Middle Eastern shopping experience, the old
town centre of Jeddah is home to a number of crowded souks
(bazaars) where touts are waiting to haggle over leathergoods, gold
jewellery and textiles, as well as knock-off designer goods. The
most popular bazaar in Jeddah is the Souq al-Alawi.
Sightseeing
Jeddah is considered the most cosmopolitan city in Saudi Arabia,
and the constant expansion of the concrete is threatening to engulf
the beautiful coral architecture of the Old Town, which is in a sad
state of disrepair. However, some, like the Naseef House, have been
restored to its former glory, complete with camel-friendly
ramps.
The Souq al-Awawi is a fascinating place, even if you aren't
there to buy. The biggest bazaar in Jeddah, the narrow streets are
bursting with merchandise, and the market is especially busy during
Haj. Another market worth seeing is the fish market in Al-Balad,
where dozens of species ranging from hammerhead sharks to squid are
sold at auction between 5am and 9am.
Another popular place for sightseeing in Jeddah is the 22-mile
(35km) Corniche, a busy meeting place where families and friends
gather for picnics and other activities on warm summer nights. A
number of interesting sculptures line the promenade north of the
port.
To learn something about Jeddah's history, visit the Al-Tayibat
City Museum for International Civilisation, which has more than 300
rooms filled with fascinating artefacts ranging from beautiful
Islamic manuscripts to ancient pottery and furniture.
Travellers wanting to see a different side of Jeddah can explore
the abundant sealife in the Red Sea. Scuba diving in Jeddah is a
popular activity, with several stunning coral reef systems and
shipwrecks in the area.
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