Business Traveller (Middle East)
24 HOURS IN JEDDAH
Set aside some time to explore this Red Sea city during your next business trip; you won’t be disappointed
Top tips for a quick trip to Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea city
Jeddah is Saudi Arabia’s oldest city; a lively, cosmopolitan centre that is home to stunning architecture, pristine beaches and world-class cuisine. If you are lucky enough to find yourself in this historic mercantile hub, take some time out to discover how an ancient port has evolved into one of the region’s most popular ‘hidden’ gems.
1 Awaken your taste buds with Arabic coffee
Jeddah is known for its café culture and there are numerous places to grab a cup of coffee around the city – from a thimble-sized cup of aromatic Arabic coffee to an international-style latte with a local twist. Situated in Old Jeddah, Café Magad (@ cafe_ magad) blends modern speciality coffee with a traditional Arabic brew, while Medd Café ( meddcoffee.com/ en), the first café of its kind in Jeddah, sources its beans from international organic fair-trade farms.
2 Wander through Jeddah’s Old Town
Spend the morning exploring the narrow streets of Jeddah’s historic old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Known as ‘the Bridge of the Red Sea’, Jeddah has welcomed traders and pilgrims for centuries and has been the official seaport for the Holy City of Makkah since 647CE.
The best way to explore the old city is on foot. Start at the eastern edge of Al Balad (old town) by Makkah Gate. The city walls have been reconstructed to give you a sense of how this medieval city’s ancient walls once looked. Notice the beautiful architecture of the houses, built using coral from the Red Sea.
The Matbouli House Museum is an example of a traditional
Hijazi merchant’s home, minimally refurbished and converted into a museum containing wood lattice balconies and old artefacts.
Continue walking and you will uncover Souq Al Alawi, which runs off Al Dahab St. Here, in Saudi Arabia’s largest market, you can find all manner of goods, from Arabian jewellery and Islamic art to local street food. Make sure not to accept the first price given to you as bargaining here is a must!
In the centre of the Souq is Naseef House, once the home of King Abdul Aziz, the first monarch and founder of Saudi Arabia and today, a museum and cultural centre. Look out for the huge tree to the left of the door – up until 1920, this was the only tree in the whole of Jeddah.
Tours of Jeddah’s historic old town can be taken independently or through Deira Tours ( deira. com.sa) or Palms Land Tours ( palmslandtours.com).
3 Try a tasty seafood lunch
As a coastal city, Jeddah is known for its seafood. Check out Miami-style Blue Ocean for seafood platters and, in the north of the city, Al Qalzam Fisheries. For something quick to go, you could try ‘Khubz’ flatbread (Arabic for ‘ bread’) at Shukri bakery in the old town.
Or, if you’re keen to sample a Saudi fast-food favourite, try Al Baik’s ( albaik.com/en) fried chicken – Al Baik has more than 40 branches in Jeddah.
4 Visit Jeddah’s floating mosque
Located on the Red Sea coast, this beautiful mosque is one of Jeddah’s most popular attractions. Al Rahma, also known as ‘the floating mosque’, appears to be hovering above the water. Constructed in 1985 it blends traditional Islamic and modern architecture and uses state-of-the-art technology, including a digital display informing visitors of the day’s prayer times. The mosque is open 24 hours a day to Muslims and non-Muslims, but visitors should note that prayer times, held five times daily, are busy. Men and women are asked to pray separately and to dress modestly when entering the mosque.
5 Check out the world’s largest flagpole
Situated in the centre of King Abdullah Square is Jeddah’s flagpole. Erected in 2014, it has since become a major landmark of the city and was officially approved by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s tallest flagpole.
Be sure to pass by to see Saudi Arabia’s national flag fluttering 171 metres in the sky.
6 Embark on a gastro journey
When it comes to dinner,
Jeddah has a wealth of upscale restaurants for fine dining. Try authentic
Lebanese food at Byblos with views of Jeddah Corniche. Opt for a selection of appetisers including hummus, muhammara (a spicy walnut and red pepper dip) and kibbeh (a Levantine dish made of bulgur wheat and finely ground lean beef, lamb, goat, or camel meat with Middle Eastern spices).
If you are still hungry, try fatteh, a traditional Lebanese dish of baked yoghurt, tahini and chickpeas with the addition of eggplant or ground beef.
For the best of international cuisine, check out Nozomi ( nozomiksa.com), a Japanese restaurant with tapas-style sharing dishes. No trip to Nozomi is complete without tasting the baked black cod. The desserts are as equally delicious and indulgent!
If a more casual dining experience suits you better, it is worth exploring one of Jeddah’s 150-plus food trucks. Just off Prince Sultan Road, you’ll find Al Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal Road, an area informally known as ‘Food Truck Park’. Choose from Middle Eastern favourites at BS House, devour the burgers at Gus’s Food truck or taste the chicken satay skewers at Sateology.
7 End your day at the corniche
There’s no better place to walk off dinner than on the corniche, which is also home to the highest fountain in the world, King Fahd’s Fountain.
Another option is to rent a bike and cycle along the 4.2km coastal stretch. This is the perfect spot to relax after a busy day, taking in the sunset and soaking up the bustling atmosphere.
8 Getting around
The best way to get around the city is with Uber or Careem, but if you’re venturing further afield, private drivers can be organised through your hotel concierge or at the airport.
9 A longer trip?
Scuba Diving: Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea is known for its world-class dive sites. Top spots in the city include Sharm Obhur, the famous 1978 shipwreck at Abu-Tair and, approximately two hours from Jeddah, Abu Faramish. Golf: If you have half a day to spare, why not take a trip to the Royal Greens Golf & Country Club at
King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) and tee off at one of the top golf courses in the Middle East (royalgreens.net). It’s an hour-and-ahalf by road from central Jeddah.
There’s no better place to walk off dinner than on the corniche