Where is Jeddah located?

City of Jeddah

The city of Jeddah is the second largest governorate in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and it is considered the economic capital of the Kingdom, due to its importance in supporting the state’s economy and its major role in trade. It is also considered a financial and business center in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This is due to the presence of the port of Jeddah there, as this port is the largest seaport on the Red Sea, and the city of Jeddah is considered a major port for exporting non-oil goods and importing local needs from the rest of the world. The city of Jeddah also contains the headquarters of international banks, and approximately 135 skyscrapers under construction.

Location of Jeddah city

Astronomical website

The city of Jeddah occupies an astronomical position located at latitude 30/21 north of the equator, that is, two degrees south of the Tropic of Cancer. As for longitudes, it is located to the east of the Atlantic coast, approximately forty degrees of longitude, or 39/12, towards the east. Due to the fact that the city is located in a dry tropical region, its climate is hot in winter, and becomes extremely hot in summer, and the prevailing winds are northwesterly.

Geographical location

Jeddah is located in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and it is its second largest city. It is geographically located on the western side of the Arabian Peninsula and the eastern coast of the Red Sea. To its north is the Gulf of Aqaba, while to its south is the Bab al-Mandab Strait, and it is halfway between them. As for its location in Saudi Arabia, it is 949 km away from Riyadh Governorate, and 420 km away from Medina.

Geography of the city of Jeddah

The geographical shapes and terrains of the city of Jeddah are diverse. It is a coastal city and includes mountains, plains and valleys. The most important geographical terrains that make up the city of Jeddah are:

• the valleys: There are 4 valleys in Jeddah: Wadi Ghalil, which is the largest valley in Jeddah and located in the southern part. The second largest valley is Wadi Hasat Marsikh, followed by Wadi Breiman, which extends from the northeast to the southwest for a distance equal to 30 km. The most flowing valley in the city of Jeddah is Wadi Al-Karaa, which is located in the far north of the city.
• Plains: The most famous plain in Jeddah is the Tihama Plain, which was called that because of its intense heat and stagnant winds. It is overlooked by the Sarat Mountains that separate it from Najd. The Tihama Plain is variable in width, as it extends from the south near Jizan to reach its maximum width, as its width is approximately 45 km. The plain reaches its northernmost point at Nabigh, where it is at its narrowest, reaching a width of approximately 20 km.
• Coral reefs: Because Jeddah is located on the Red Sea coast, it is rich in marine life in its various forms. One of the most beautiful things that the Red Sea contains is the diverse and dense coral reefs, as there are approximately 200 different types of these reefs in colour, shape and pattern. It grows in abundance in the Red Sea due to the availability of suitable conditions for its formation. In that region, the shallow continental shelf expands, the water is considered warm, the sea water is moderately salty and clear, and bright sunlight constantly falls on it.

The most important landmarks in Jeddah

The city of Jeddah includes many distinctive landmarks, including historically and architecturally distinctive areas. The most important of these landmarks are:

• Abdul Raouf Khalil Museum: It is a museum built by Sheikh Abdul Raouf Khalil in 1987 AD, and its construction continued until 1996 AD. The museum is located on XNUMXth Street, and it is a museum concerned with heritage and arts.
• King Fahad's fountain: The fountain is located on the western shore of the Red Sea, and what distinguishes it is that it is the highest fountain of its kind in the world, and it has a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.
• Historical Jeddah: The historic Jeddah area has ancient historical dimensions, and UNESCO has included it on the World Urban Heritage List.
• Al-Rahma Mosque: It is a mosque built above the sea level in the Al-Shati neighborhood, in 2005, to be the first mosque built on water.
• King Abdullah Sports Stadium: It is a multi-use stadium. Its construction began in 2013 and began receiving visitors in 2014. It is located north of King Abdulaziz Airport.
• Flag poleThe height of the flagpole exceeds 171 metres, which made it entered in the Guinness Book of Records as the tallest flagpole in the world. It is located in King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Square.
• Jeddah Corniche: It is the most distinctive feature of the city, as it extends for more than 20 miles, along the Red Sea coast, and includes many facilities and beautiful views overlooking the sea.
• Aesthetic models: A large collection of beautiful models, numbering 360, are distributed in the city’s squares and beaches. They are models worked on by the best international artists in the art of sculpture, and that is why the city is called the open museum.
• Al-Shafi’i Mosque: It is considered one of the oldest mosques, and it is located in Al-Mazloum Neighborhood. As for the mosque’s minaret, it is said that its history dates back to the seventh century AH.
• Othman bin Affan Mosque: The travelers Ibn Jubair and Ibn Battuta mentioned it in their travels, and this mosque is sometimes called the Ebony Mosque, because it contains two masts made of ebony wood.

History of the city of Jeddah

The city of Jeddah has the fragrance of time and the authenticity of the place. It is a city that includes archaeological buildings distinguished by its authentic history and distinctive architecture. The history of the city dates back to pre-Islamic times, approximately 3000 years ago, at the hands of a group of fishermen who used to take it as a resting place after fishing trips. But the focus of the city’s transformation in history and its renaissance dates back to the time of Caliph Othman bin Affan, who took advantage of Jeddah’s distinguished location on the Red Sea, and made it the port of Mecca in the year 26 AH.