World Records in Tourism

The World's Highest Fountain

Jeddah is the gatway to and the economic centre of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Its long-lasting history and its location on the coast have furthermore earned it the romantic byname "Bride of the Red Sea".

In an effort to stress this intimate connection between urban structure and water, it is prominently presented in the city's main landmark: the water fountain of Jeddah is the world's highest.

The Jeddah Fountain at Sunset

Especially in arid and desert countries, water plays an important role as a crucial means of survival. To honour this precious element and to place an emblematic emphasis on the city's proximity to the sea, the fountain was built in the 1980s.

Under perfect wind and weather conditions, it tops out at an incredible 312 m. This is especially impressive when considering that the second highest fountain in Seoul/South Corea reaches a modest 202 m, while the Jet d'Eau in Geneva marks Europe's best with a mere 140 m.

The show opens every day around 5 p.m., when the water is pressed with a speed of 375 km/h up in the air. The regular northerly wind then disperses the water spray and creates an emblematic 'water curtain', visible from the air and from many points across the city. And at night, effective lightning produces a sense of serenity and beauty all along the coast.

The Illuminated Jeddah Fountain at Night

For those who are interested in the more technical aspects of the construction, there is very detailed article published by the regional Newspaper Arab News:

The Jeddah Fountain


And from my personal experience I can affirm that it is a truly wonderful and majestic sprectacle!



Andreas Hauser