Museums

• 3    Jeddah Regional Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography. Located in the Khuzam Palace, built in 1928. The collection ranges from artefacts of the Stone Age attributed to the Acheulean period found in nearby Wadi Fatimah over items of several pre-Islamic cultures and items illustrating the rise of Islam to relics from the time the palace was used by the royal family. A second collection holds ethnographic items portraying the recent culture of the region.     (updated Mar 2021 | edit)

• 4     Abdul Raouf Khalil Museum.   (updated Mar 2021 

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The Jeddah Corniche offers spectacular views of the Red Sea. Check out the main shopping street on Tahliya for interesting wares, and if you're looking for good quality gold, try the Gold Souq where you can bargain for 18k and 24k gold by weight. The King Fahd Fountain is not only the tallest water fountain in Jeddah, but also the world.

• 5     King Fahd's Fountain. With a maximum height between 260 and 312 m, this fountain in the Red Sea is the tallest in the world. Water ejected reaches supersonic speeds of 375 km/h, and the amount of water in the air can exceed 16 m³. As a prominent landmark, it is visible from most parts of the city, and illuminated at night by over 500 spotlights. It was constructed between 1980 and 1983, and sponsored by King Fahd, hence its name.     (updated Nov 2017

• 6    Asfan Castle. An Ottoman qishla (fort) built in the 1800s.     (updated Mar 2021

• 7     Jaffali Mosque.   (updated Mar 2021 

Do

• 1     Grand Prix or Formula One and other motor races are hosted at the Ash Shati track, north of the city near the airport. The next F1 event is 7-9 March 2024 so you need to factor in the start of Ramadan on 10 March. The Jeddah F1 at 6175 m is the longest street race in the calendar.

• 2    King Abdullah Sports City (مدينة الملك عبدالله الرياضية) (5 km north of airport). The main stadium, capacity 62,240, is mainly used for soccer. It's the home ground of Al-Ahli and Al-Ittihad, both playing in Pro League the top tier. In 2027 it hosts matches in the AFC Asian Cup Finals.   (updated Feb 2024 | edit)

• 3    Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City (مدينة الأمير عبدالله الفيصل الرياضية). This no longer has a resident soccer club. It's being expanded to 27,000 for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup Finals.   (updated Feb 2024 

Scuba diving

Scuba diving     is a major draw for expats in the Kingdom, although the Saudis themselves seem oblivious to the treasures that await offshore.

Because of Jeddah's location on the Red Sea, the flora and fauna are quite similar to what you'd see on Egypt's Red Sea Coast or off the Sinai Peninsula, only minus all the tourists.

Visibility can be spectacular (30-40m is common) and the corals are virtually untouched. There are plenty of interesting sites to explore like the Chicken Wreck, a boat carrying tons of frozen chicken that hit the reef and sunk at a depth of 10-18m. Most of the better dive sites are around one hour out to sea by speed boat.

The Red Sea gets chilly in the winter, with water temperatures dropping to 22°C, so you'll want to use a 5 mm wetsuit with hood. In summer, temperatures climb up to a much more balmy 29°C, and 3mm shorty or 1 mm diveskin is plenty.

Parks

• 4    Water park at Sail Island. A good spot, especially for families, when the blazing Saudi Arabian sun becomes too much to bear. The park was built on an artificial peninsula and is covered by several sail-like tents, which offer shade while you enjoy the pool and recreation facilities. 

• 5    Atallah Happy Land Park, 6263 Al Kurnaysh Rd (Jeddah Corniche), ☏ +966 12 699 1189. 5PM. An amusement park with indoor and outdoor rides and attractions, ice skating and bowling, dining and shopping, 6D theatre and live shows. SR25.

• 6    Al-Shalal Theme Park (Fakieh Poultry Farms), Jeddah Corniche near end of Sary St.. The park boasts of having the largest double looped roller coaster in the Asian continent. Operational since 2004, the roller coaster at the Theme Park is 34 m high and caters to more than 700 visitors/hr. The two storey entertainment building at the centre of the Park features an ice skating rink and a theme area, a roller skating rink and the Amazon Ride with a jungle theme, complete with life-size figures of animals, light and sound effects. The Amazon Ride is spread over an area of 1800 m2 with a lagoon and 15 m high waterfall. Seven restaurants, party rooms and a games arcade are housed in the entertainment building. The party rooms can be reserved by the public for birthday parties and private gatherings at reasonable rates. The park also has a European village theme area, a Far East village area and a large number of retail outlets for souvenirs and soft toys for the children. The complex has a separate building for car parking which can accommodate 300 cars plus an additional open air parking facility which has an additional capacity of 300 cars.  

Work 

There are many places to find work in Jeddah and jobs are plentiful, but unemployment among Saudi nationals remains high, especially among the youth population. One must obtain a visa to work in Saudi Arabia and the complicated process can only begin with a sponsorship from a company or individual already located in the Kingdom. Western expats cannot simply arrive in Saudi Arabia and then look for employment, and Western women will experience great challenges in finding employment.

Buy

There are a number of shopping malls in Jeddah.

• 1    Hera'a Mall, Madina St. 

• 2    Mall of Arabia. It claims to be the biggest shopping mall in Saudi Arabia on Madina St, rivaling Hera'a Mall. 

• 3     Red Sea Mall, ☏ +966 59 490 9099, info@redseamall.com. It is one of the biggest shopping malls in Jeddah on King Abdulaziz Road.     (updated Sep 2020 

• 4    Star's Avenue. One of the newest malls on Al-Malek Road, featuring a Saks Fifth Avenue.  

• 5    Tahlia Center, Al Nahdaa. 

• 6    Jeddah Mall, Tahlia St. Not a lot of variety but has a great food court to hang out in.  

• 7    Al Khayyat Center, Tahlia St. Find international designer brands such as Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, LV, Fendi, and Dior.

• 8    Al Basateen. A favorite hang out for teenagers. 

• 9    Le Mall. First Starbucks branch in Jeddah. 

• 10    Mega Mall. The best mall for all ages. 

• 11    Aziz Mall (Close to the Airplane roundabout opposite Abdul Latif Jameel). (updated May 2023 |

• 12    Roshan Mall, King Abdulaziz Rd.. (updated May 2023  

• 13    Roshana Mall, Altahlia St.. (updated May 2023 

• 14    Al-Andlus Mall (On the road to King Abdul Aziz University (KAAU)). (updated May 2023 |

• 15   Jeddah International Mall. Oldest mall in Jeddah, specialising in gold and Filipino food 

• 16   Jamjoom Center.

Eat

Jeddah is full of restaurants with almost every cuisine imaginable and eating out is part of the city's culture. Some of the restaurants have separate sections for single men and for families. Dating is theoretically forbidden but widely practiced, and most restaurants will allow a couple into the family section without question. All businesses close for prayer for about half an hour at noon and at sunset. They close again an hour after sunset for about 45 minutes. If you like to eat early, you can often stay in a restaurant during prayer time. Saudis tend to eat late, well after the evening prayer.

The standard cheap meal is the shawarma - giant layers of beef or chicken turning on a vertical spit. Thin slices are cut off and served with vegetables, garlic, and sauce in pita bread. You can also find a few falafel shops or eat at boofias (cornershops). Another thing that is very cheap is Homus, which is the paste of white chickpeas mixed with olive oil, and is very tasty. Try the Filipino Souk near Saudia City. Ask for the Pakistani area Kababish. There's a group of shops and restaurants with very low prices. Most of the American Fast Food franchises can be found in Jeddah, including McDonald's, Applebee's, Subway, and numerous others.

Budget[

• Al Baik. One of the most popular fast food chain of Saudi Arabia available in Jeddah, Mecca, Medina & Yanbu. Al Baik has 25 branches in Jeddah. Saudi dishes as well as fast food. (updated May 2023 

Mid-range

• 1   Khayal, Prince Sultan Road, History Roundabout. One of the best Turkish restaurants in Jeddah. It offers a variety of Turkish food to its customers. Especially, fresh fruit juices and kunafah (a traditional dessert) are delicious. (SR 50-100). 

Splurge

• 2   Aromi Restaurant, Qasr al Sharq. Italian restaurant with sea views. (updated May 2023

• 3    Mataam Al Sharq (at Waldorf Astoria Jeddah - Qasr Al Sharq). Lebanese cuisine. (updated May 2023 

• 4   Al Safina Restaurant (at the Jeddah Hilton). Persian cuisine. (updated May 2023

• 5   Cafe Vienna (at the Jeddah Hilton). Italian Cafe. (updated May 2023  

• 6    Al Nakheel (Corniche area), ☏ +966 12 606 6644. Traditional food with sheesha. (updated Jul 2017

• 7   Byblos. edit

• 8   Caffe Aroma (located on Corniche). Theme-fusion food. (updated May 2023 | edit)

• 9   Papaya (next to Sawary Mall). International food. (updated May 2023 | edit)

• 10 Yildizlar, ☏ +966 2 653 1150. In front of Saudi American Bank, Al Hamra Area. Excellent Turkish, Syrian, Lebanese, and Palestinian food.  

Drink

Like all Saudi Arabian cities, you aren't going to find much nightlife revolving around alcohol in Jeddah, as the manufacture, sale and consumption of alcohol are illegal throughout the kingdom. What you should be able to find are shisha cafes and a large variety of coffee shops such as: 1 Barncafe, 2 Javana Lounge, Starbucks and Costa Coffee. Non-alcoholic beer is available in restaurants as are non-alcoholic cocktails and other drinks. Alcoholic drinks are usually served in private compounds and beaches for Westerners, where Saudis are usually not allowed in.

Sleep

 

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• 1   Al-Hamra, Palestine St (easy access to the beach), ☏ +966 2 6602000, fax: +966 2 6604145, h0824@accor.com. From 469 SR.  

• 2   Crowne Plaza, Al Corniche, Al Ma'adi Rd, ☏ +966 2 6611000, fax: +966 2 6606326, info@cpjeddah.com. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 3PM. From 750 SR. edit

• 3   Jeddah Marriott, Madinah Road, ☏ +966 12-2366668. Older but well-maintained property. Deep pool but for men only, large gym, good breakfast. The main downsides are the mildly awkward location with little of interest nearby and the poor soundproofing, esp. as there are four mosques nearby. US$120.  

• 4    Radisson Blu Hotel, Jeddah, Medina Road (10 minutes from the King Abdul Aziz Int'l Airport), ☏ +966 2 652 1234, info.royal.jeddah@radissonblu.com. Health club, indoor swimming pool, 83 high end suites, three meeting rooms, free internet access.  

• 5    Radisson Blu Hotel, Jeddah Corniche, Corniche Road, ☏ +966 12 5110000, info.jeddahcorniche@radissonblu.com.  

• 6    Rosewood Corniche, ☏ +966 2 257 8888, fax: +966 2 257 8111, corniche@rosewoodhotels.com. Five-star luxury hotel with amazing sea view and amenities. 

• 7    The Venue (former Westin), 7295 Al Kurnaysh Rd, ☏ +966-12-613-9000, fax: +966-12-658-8761, info@the-venue.com. Resort in city center with roomside views of the sea. 

• 8    Intercontinental Jeddah, ☏ +966-2-2295555, fax: +966-2-2295556, intercontinental.jeddah@ihg.com. Check-in: noon, check-out: 3PM. Luxury resort with all amenities. 

• 9    Sheraton Jeddah Hotel, North Corniche, ☏ +966 2 6992212. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon.  

• 10    Durrat Al-Arouse. Jeddah's main resort.

• 11   Le Méridien Jeddah. 

• 12   The Signature Al Murjan Beach Resort Jeddah, North Obhur Rd, ☏ +966 2-656 0666, +966 2-6588200, fax: +966 2-656 0555. Resort hotel right next to the Red Sea.  

• 13  Park Hyatt Jeddah–Marina, Club and Spa Resort, Al Hamra District, Southern Corniche, ☏ +966 2 263 9666, jeddah.park@hyatt.com. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. 142 rooms and suites with views of the Red Sea, Arab-Andalusian ambiance, walk-in-closet, tea and coffee making facilities. Separate ladies and gents spas and a gentlemen's club. Great views of the Red Sea and King Fahd fountain. This resort is a remarkable engineering feat having reclaimed prime waterfront land from the Red Sea.

• 14   Ascott Tahlia Jeddah, Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz Street, ☏ +966 12 283 2322, enquiry.jeddah@the-ascott.com. All the apartments are fitted with floor to ceiling glass windows, this offers two and three bedroom penthouses and one, two and three bedroom apartments. (updated Nov 2017 | edit)

• 15   Swiss Spirit Residences Al Joury, Al Basateen District, ☏ +966 011 485 7777, sherrif.naguib@swissspirithotels.com. high end finishing & modern furniture. From SR 400 per night. (updated Jun 2018 | edit)

• 16   Citadines Al Salamah Jeddah, Prince Sultan Street, ☏ +96612-6111846, enquiry.jeddah@the-ascott.com. The property has a gym, residents’ lounge, prayer room, meeting rooms, and an in-house café and restaurant.  

Splurge

• 17   Waldorf Astoria Jeddah - Qasr Al Sharq, North Corniche Rd, ☏ +966 9200 09565. The "Palace of the Orient" is Waldorf-Astoria's attempt to create a "seven-star" luxury hotel in Jeddah. Decoration is opulent, and prices are a splurge. Food is primarily Venetian. All amenities can be found. (updated Mar 2022  

Stay safe

While not as strict as Riyadh, it is recommended that you follow the various safety tips in Saudi Arabia article to stay out of trouble.

Perhaps the biggest danger you'll face is the extreme, scorching heat. Temperatures can reach as high as 52 °C (126 °F) in the summers. Be sure to hydrate often and wear appropriate clothing to deal with the heat.

Natural disasters 

Floods are not unusual in Jeddah, and they can be both violent and destructive, mainly because the city lacks the necessary infrastructure to protect itself against floods.

Refer to the various tips in the Flash floods article if the city experiences flooding.

Connect

Most shopping malls have Internet cafes. Coffee places such as Costa Coffee, StarBucks Coffee, Barnies, Second Cup and many more provide WiFi access to customers.