Jeddah Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Jeddah

جدّة Jidda

City

Jeddah Skyline

Flag	Coat of arms

Nickname(s):

The Bride of the Red Sea

Established

From the 6th century BC

Joined Saudi Arabia

1925

Area

• Urban

1,686 km² (651 sq mi)

• Metro

3,000 km² (1,000 sq mi)

Elevation

12 m (39 ft)

Population

(2012)

• City

5,112,018

• Density

2,921/km² (1,826/sq mi)

• Urban

3,855,912

• Metro

5,318,636

Jeddah City estimate

Time zone

UTC+3 (EAT)

• Summer (DST)

UTC+3 (EAT)

Postal Code

(5 digits)

Area code(s)

+966-2

Website

Jeddah Municipality

Jeddah (sometimes spelled Jiddah or Jedda; is a city in the Hijaz Tihamah region on the coast of the Red Sea and is the major urban center of western Saudi Arabia. It is the largest city in Makkah Province, the largest sea port on the Red Sea, and with a population of about 4 million people (as of 2017^[update]), the second-largest city in Saudi Arabia after the capital city, Riyadh. Jeddah is Saudi Arabia's commercial capital.

Jeddah is the principal gateway to Mecca and Medina, two of the holiest cities in Islam and popular tourist attractions.

Economically, Jeddah is focusing on further developing capital investment in scientific and engineering leadership within Saudi Arabia, and the Middle East. Jeddah was independently ranked fourth in the Africa – Mid-East region in terms of innovation in 2009 in the Innovation Cities Index.

Jeddah is one of Saudi Arabia's primary resort cities and was named a Beta world city by the Globalization and World Cities Study Group and Network (GaWC). Given the city's close proximity to the Red Sea, fishing and seafood dominates the food culture unlike other parts of the country. In Arabic, the city's motto is "Jeddah Ghair," which translates to "Jeddah is different." The motto has been widely used among both locals as well as foreign visitors. The city had been previously perceived as the "most open" city in Saudi Arabia.

History
Economy
Images for kids
See also

History

Some archaeologists' studies suggest the existence of inhabitants in the region now known as Jeddah since the Stone Age seeing as they found some artifacts and writings in Wadi (valley) Breiman east of Jeddah and Wadi Boib northeast of Jeddah. Some historians trace its founding a tribe who inhabited it in 115 BC. According to some accounts, the history of Jeddah dates back to early times before Alexander the Great, who visited the city between 323 and 356 BC. Excavations in the old city suggest that Jeddah was founded as a fishing hamlet in 522 BC.

Economy

Mall of Arabia is the largest shopping mall in Jeddah

Jeddah has long been a port city. Even before being designated the port city for Mecca, Jeddah was a trading hub for the region. In the 19th century, goods such as mother-of-pearl, tortoise shells, frankincense, and spices were routinely exported from the city. Apart from this, many imports into the city were destined for further transit to the Suez, Africa, or Europe. Many goods passing through Jeddah could not even be found in the city or even in Arabia.

All of the capitals of the Middle East and North Africa are within two hours flying distance of Jeddah, making it the second commercial center of the Middle East after Dubai. Also, Jeddah's industrial district is the fourth largest industrial city in Saudi Arabia after Riyadh, Jubail and Yanbu.

King Abdullah Street

King Abdullah Street is one of the most important streets in Jeddah and runs from King Fahd Road by the waterfront in the west of Jeddah to the eastern end of the city. It is famous for hosting numerous corporate offices and commercial developments, it also has the tallest Flagpole in the world at a height of 170 m (558 ft).

Tahliyah Street

Tahaliyah Street is an important fashion and shopping street in central Jeddah. It contains many upscale department stores and boutiques. It has been renamed "Prince Mohammad bin Abdul Aziz Road" by the government, but this official name is not widely used. It is also the most luxurious street in Jeddah as it has super cars such as lambos, ferrari, and mclarens.

Madina Road

Madina Road is one of the most important streets in Jeddah. It links the South districts with the North, and it contains most of the companies main offices and showrooms. And it is the road to King AbdulAziz Airport.

Images for kids

Jeddah in 1938
Portuguese attack in 1517 by Gaspar Correia (c. 1496–1563) - Originally from Lendas da India by Gaspar Correia.
Mohammed Abu Zenada, one of the Chiefs of Jeddah and the advisor to the Sharif during the surrender to King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud in 1925
King Abdulaziz sitting with Abdullah Ali Reda on the day he entered Jeddah in 1925
Map of Jeddah from OpenStreetMap
King Abdullah Street.
Galleria, a Hotel at Tahliyah Street.
A view of the Madinah Road in 2007.
A woman from Jeddah in traditional clothing, 1873.
The bicycle roundabout is one of the most iconic open-air art installations in Jeddah.
Copper Statue 'Hope for the right path' from Belgian artist Hubert Minnebo at the Sword Roundabout (Tahlia Street)
Skyline of Al-Balad (Jeddah Downtown)
The architecture of buildings in Jeddahs' historic Al-Balad area
The historic centre
Saloom's house in historical Jeddah
Beit Nasseef
Beit Bajanaid
King Fahd's Fountain in Jeddah
Al-Rahmah Mosque
The IDB Jeddah tower can be seen in the background of this mosque.
The world's tallest flagpole
Laboratories at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)
Pakistan International School Jeddah (PISJ)
King Abdullah International Stadium
King Abdulaziz International Airport
Jeddah Seaport
The high-speed locomotive that operates the Haramain train line between Makkah, Madinah, and Jeddah. It is manufactured by Spanish trainset manufacturer Talgo.
A tunnel in King Abdullah St. was filled with water during the 2009 floods.
A tunnel in King Abdullah St. was filled with water during the 2011 floods.

Jeddah facts for kids

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