Destination Report: Old Town Jeddah

The Bride of the Red Sea –
Jeddah’s Mesmerising Old Town

One of the best-kept secrets of Saudi Arabia lies entangled between a bustling port, a busy road system, modern shopping malls and a residential area: the Old Town of Jeddah.

What began around 2,500 years ago as a small fishing settlement, gained major importance as the port for the two holy cities of Makkah and Madinah. Originally fortified with a high wall to fight off attackers, the 1.5 km² area constitutes today the largest historically grown urban fabric of the entire Arabian Peninsula.

View of the Old Town of Jeddah

Little Squares Dot the Streets

Most of the houses in Old Jeddah are 3- to 4-storey buildings, although some constructions tower up to seven stories high over the cobbled streets. Many of the tall and graceful buildings date back to the 19th century. Constructed of coral limestone and decorated with intricately beautiful wooden facades, they form the main attraction of the Old Town.

One of the Most Beautiful Buildings in Jeddah

A 5-Storey Wooden Facade

Jeddah’s first big boom began in 1869 with the opening of the Suez Canal. The ensuing trade activity linked the city with ports in Europe, the Mediterranean, the Arab World, Africa and via India onto Asia.

Economic wealth ensued and laid the foundation for the rich merchant houses in the town. Still some of the city’s heydays as a commercial hub along the Red Sea can be seen today, although in varying state of preservation.

A Wonderfully Renovated House...

... and its Crumbling Neighbour

With the discovery of oil, the second big boom for Jeddah started in 1947 when the town had no more than 30,000 inhabitants. Today, its size has grown by the factor 100, leading to an estimated population of over 3 million.

It stretches out over 80 km between the sea to the West and the mountains in the East and Modern constructions have since taken over the role of meeting places or commercial areas for most of the population.

The Urban Sprawl of Modern Jeddah

However, the souq of Old Jeddah is still a most fascinating place to wander around during a winter day or on hot summer evening. And when taking into view one of the old houses, with the aroma of the spice shops around and the sound of haggling in the air, one can easily travel back in time and sense the atmosphere of Old Jeddah.

Street Life in the Old Souq


Prayer Carpets in All Forms and Colours

A truly marvellous and authentic experience in a modernized world.


Andreas Hauser