Al-Balad (Historic Jeddah)

Al-Balad, whose name means the town, is the old core of Jeddah on Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast. It grew from the 7th century as the main port for pilgrims travelling to Mecca, and for centuries merchants and pilgrims passed through its streets on their way inland.

The old town was once enclosed by defensive walls, which were pulled down in the 1940s as the city expanded. During the oil boom of the 1970s and 1980s many families moved to newer districts to the north, and several old houses fell into disrepair. In 2014 UNESCO inscribed the district as Historic Jeddah, the Gate to Mecca.

The district is known for its tall Hijazi tower houses, some more than 30 metres high, with wooden roshan bay windows and mashrabiya screens that let air through while giving shade and privacy. Nasseef House, a large merchant house that once hosted King Abdulaziz, is the best known, and Al Jamjoom House and the Al Shafi'i Mosque are among its other landmarks. The quarter is traditionally divided into the Al-Mazloum, Al-Sham, Al-Yemen and Al-Bahr neighbourhoods, linked by narrow lanes and busy souqs.

In 2021 the Historic Jeddah revitalisation project was launched, and in October 2023 the Public Investment Fund set up the Al Balad Development Company to manage the area's revival. Some restored houses now operate as hotels, and the district hosts heritage events, including activities during Jeddah Season.

The streets of Al-Balad are free to walk, while some restored houses and museums charge for entry. The lanes are most pleasant after sunset, when the heat eases and the souqs are busiest. Wear comfortable shoes and modest clothing, and allow two to three hours.

How is Al-Balad being restored?

Restoration in Al-Balad has run in stages for more than three decades. The Jeddah Historical Preservation Society was founded in 1991, and in 2002 about 4 million US dollars was set aside for its work. The Jeddah Urban Development Company was formed in 2007 to restore the district, and Saudi Arabia nominated it for World Heritage status in 2009, five years before the listing.

In May 2019 the Crown Prince announced the restoration of 56 historic buildings, with a first stage worth 13.3 million US dollars. In May 2024 three old family houses, the Jokhdar, Al-Rayyis and Kedwan houses, were announced for conversion into luxury hotels. Some of the buildings being repaired are around 500 years old, which is why scaffolding and closed facades are a normal sight on many lanes.

Al-Balad also has a small non-Muslim cemetery with more than 400 graves, a reminder of the foreign merchants and consuls who lived in the port. During Jeddah Season the district hosts the Kanz Al-Balad programme, which in 2019 offered more than 41 shows and plays in its streets and courtyards. In Ramadan the lanes and souqs stay crowded late into the night.