Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Jeddah

Madinah

Jeddah Jeddah is different Jeddah is the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s second largest city and the country’s major commercial centre with a population of around 4.7 million people. An ancient port city and the second busiest seaport in the Middle East, Jeddah is the main entry point for pilgrims performing their Hajj and Umrah in Mecca. A culture of fishing, diving and seafood unlike other parts of the country due to Jeddah’s close proximity to the Red Sea, a historical district listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site and a popular cosmopolitan area of shopping districts, hotels and resorts make Jeddah a true mix of the old and the new or to quote the city’s unofficial motto, “Jeddah Ghair” which translates to “Jeddah is different”.

Al-Rahmah Mosque Al-Rahmah Mosque, or Fatima Al-Zahra Mosque, is a mosque built above water on the coast of the Red Sea. One of the most visited mosques in Jeddah as well as a popular tourist attraction along the Jeddah Corniche, the mosque combines traditional architecture and Islamic art with modern technology and fully-equipped facilities. Surrounded by the sea and built on pillars, during high tide, the beautiful mosque appears as though it is floating on the Red Sea.

Jeddah Corniche Jeddah Corniche, also known as the Jeddah Waterfront, is a coastal resort area that features piers, swimming bays, restaurants, hotels, retail outlets, iconic sculptures and lush landscaped paths along the Red Sea. Occupying an area that spans 4.2 kilometres, the Jeddah Corniche is able to accommodate up to 120,000 people and has parking space for up to 3,000 cars. The highest fountain in the world, according to Guinness World Records, King Fahd’s Fountain is located here. Reaching a height of up to 312 metres and lit up with 500 high-intensity LEDs until midnight every day, the fountain is visible from across the city all throughout the year.

Al Tayebat International Museum for Science and Knowledge A museum that features exhibits of pre-Islamic and Islamic history in a vast complex of 12 buildings of traditional Hijazi architecture. Previously a palace belonging to Sheikh Abdul Rauf Khalil, the museum has over 60,000 items on display across 300 rooms. Among the historical artifacts that have been preserved at the Al Tayebat International Museum are Islamic manuscripts, ancient coins, traditional costumes, weapons and furniture. All these items help to tell the story of Jeddah and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s history, heritage and culture.

Al Balad Al Balad, literally translates to “The Town”, historically served as the centre of Jeddah. Founded in the 7th century and added to UNESCO’s World heritage list in 2014, Al Balad is well known for its 500-year-old buildings, historic mosques and intricate coral stone architecture. Today, the district houses a bustling marketplace, traditional bakeries, modern cafes and art galleries while many buildings such as the Al Nassif House, which was the residence of the former king of Saudi Arabia, Abdulaziz Ibn Saud in 1925, the Al Jamjoom House and the Al Shafi'i Mosque have been restored to promote cultural tourism in the area.

Madinah The Prophet’s City Madinah, or officially Al Madinah Al Munawwarah which means “the Enlightened City”, is the second holiest city in Islam. With an estimated population of around 1.5 million people, Madinah is the fourth most populous city in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Madinah is the home of Al Masjid an Nabawi, or the Prophet’s Mosque, built by Prophet Muhammad and is also his burial site. Madinah is mainly visited by pilgrims as a destination when performing the Hajj or Umrah.

Masjid al-Qiblatain Masjid al-Qiblatain, translates to the “Mosque of the Two Qiblas”, is one of the oldest mosques in Madinah. It is the location where Prophet Muhammad received the revelation to change the direction of the Qibla from Masjid al-Aqsa in Jerusalem to the Kaaba in Mecca. The mosque was unique in that it used to have two mihrabs, or prayer niches, facing different directions. The old mihrab facing Jerusalem, however, has since been removed. The historical significance of Masjid al-Qiblatain makes it a must-visit location for many pilgrims performing the Hajj or Umrah.

Souq Al Tumor Souq Al Tumor, or the Central Date Market, is a popular market selling a wide selection of dates. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the second largest producer of dates and Madinah is a city famous for its high-quality dates. Apart from offering almost 200 types of world-renowned dates, the market which is located near Masjid al-Nabawi also houses hundreds of stores selling dried fruits nuts, desserts and local produce.

Dar Al Madinah Museum The first and largest museum that specialises in the cultural heritage of Madinah, the history of Islamic civilisation and the life of Prophet Muhammad. The Dar Al Madinah Museum showcases a vast collection of rare photographs, images of Madinah across different eras and hand-built models of old landmarks.

Kingdom of Saudia Arabia