Historic Jeddah, the Gate to Makkah World Heritage Site

Official name

Historic Jeddah, the Gate to Makkah | UNESCO

Country

Saudi Arabia | Map

Continent

Asia

Location

21.4838° Lat, 39.1875° Lon | Map

Code

1361

Time Zone

Asia/Riyadh (+03, +0300)

Current Time

Category

Cultural

Description

Inscribed 2014. Historic Jeddah is situated on the eastern shore of the Red Sea. From the 7th century AD it was established as a major port for Indian Ocean trade routes, channelling goods to Mecca. It was also the gateway for Muslim pilgrims to Mecca who arrived by sea. These twin roles saw the city develop into a thriving multicultural centre, characterized by a distinctive architectural tradition, including tower houses built in the late 19th century by the city’s mercantile elites, and combining Red Sea coastal coral building traditions with influences and crafts from along the trade routes.