Jeddah, also called the Bride of the Red Sea, is located on the coast of the red sea and spread out over an area of 1,320 Km2 and it is the major urban center of western Saudi Arabia. Jeddah is popularly known as the commercial capital of Saudi Arabia and one of the wealthiest cities in the Middle East. Since it is the commercial capital of the country this city if frequently visited by business travelers. The city Jeddah also boasts to be the second largest city in Saudi Arabia after Riyadh. Jeddah is primarily famous because it is the gateway to holy Islamic cities Makkah and Madinah, which able-bodied Muslims are required to visit at least once in a lifetime.
Outline:
The second major city in the Kingdom after Riyadh. It is the marine and the Arial portal of the two Holy mosques it is also a major commercial path. Moreover, Jeddah is the first coastal resort in the kingdom. There were many geographical and linguistic explanations for naming it; it is the coastal path of Makkah and the way to water and mountain. There are different etymologies of the name Jeddah one of them is a legend that states that Eve's tomb is located there, as for Saudis they call it Jaddah which is the common name. Furthermore, diplomatic members live there.
History:
Jeddah history goes back to the second century – it was believed that the first ones to live there were Quda'a bin ma'd bin Adnan and his sons who moved from the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula after the Ma'rib dam collapsed in 115 B.C. – in Jeddah, they found remains that go back to the stone age specifically in "Beraiman valley" and Thamud writings in some of its eastern mountains.
Economy:
With a thousand years of trading behind it and home to some of the world most successful merchants and business people, it is natural that Jeddah is the commercial capital of Saudi Arabia. In addition, the city's geographical location places it at the heart of the region covered by the Middle East and North Africa, with all their capitals within two hours flying distance, defining Jeddah as the commercial center of the Middle East. It is also considered a prestigious financial centre, banks and financial houses are active there.
Also, Jeddah has major industrial centers dealing with building material and heavy industry and it has an important plant for sea water desalination. Jeddah industrial district is the third largest industrial city in Saudi Arabia after Jubail and Yanbu.
Demographics:
Popular Saudi opinion regards Jeddah as the most liberal and cosmopolitan of Saudi cities in spite of its historic role as port and gateway to the holy city of Makkah. For over one thousand years, Jeddah has received millions of pilgrims of different ethnicities and backgrounds, from Africa, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, Europe and the Middle East, many of whom remained and became citizens of the city. As a result, Jeddah is much more ethnically diverse than most Saudi cities and its culture more eclectic in nature. Different nationalities of Muslims often prescribe to different sects of Islam, and the presence of these sects in Hejazi culture has helped make the city relatively more tolerant traditionally. Added to the traditional diversity, the oil-boom of the past 50 years has brought hundreds of thousands of working immigrants and foreign workers from non-Muslim countries the majority originating from continents such as North America (Unites States of America), Europe (Western Europe), and Asia (South and South-East Asia).
Tourists places:
King Fahd fountain which is the highest of its type in the world. Jeddah corniche and Jeddah's Islamic sea port.
Geographical location:
It is located on Tihama coastal plain that is located 75 Km west of Makkah in the western province in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It borders a number of hills that are parallel to Al-Sarawat Mountains from the east.
Geography
Most of Saudi Arabia is desert. The central region consists of an eroded plateau, mostly arid and hot in the summer and cold in the winter. The western region is mountainous, except for the coastal plain bordering the Red Sea such as the Jeddah area.
Climate:
Jeddah is characterized with high humidity most of the year- very hot in the summer and tends to be cold in the winter. Unlike other Saudi Arabian cities, Jeddah retains its warm temperature in winter, which can range from +15 °C(59 °F) at midnight to +25 °C (77 °F) in the afternoon. Summer temperatures are considered very hot and break the +40 °C (104 °F) mark in the afternoon dropping to +30 °C (86 °F) in the evening. Rain usually falls in Jeddah in small amounts in December. Some unusual events often happen during the year, such as dust storms in summer, coming from the Arabian Peninsula's deserts or from North Africa. Snow does not fall in Jeddah but sleet occasionally fall in January.
Life:
Life in Jeddah is different from many cities for many reasons. Firstly, Jeddah is a cosmopolitan city; it has many people coming from all over the world, who share their cultures. Secondly, it has many historical buildings with traditional designs, and it has lots of buildings near the beach. It also has very nice beaches and a Corniche where people spend a very good time and relax. Also, Jeddah has the tallest fountain in the world, named King Fahd Fountain. Last but not least, it has the annual Jeddah Festival. During the festival, there are many games and activities held in the city. There are shopping sprees, water skiing competitions, art exhibitions, and music festivals.
Other information:
High ways were established, free for travel, together with all the needed bridges and switches which caused a noticeable flow in traffic going out of the country- many main and side streets were built together with many beautiful bridges. King Abdul-Aziz airport is the first international airport with universal specifications, and today the airport experiences great activity especially during Hajj. Another feature of Jeddah is the existence of Jeddah's Islamic seaport, which is considered the biggest in the Kingdom. Jeddah is divided into four special areas: the historical area, business and commercial centre, the modern area with its wide roads and prestigious districts and the corniche which covers an area of 130 Km and gives the city a unique characteristic due to its design that passes through the beach at different levels that reflects a panorama of colors a fact that makes Jeddah similar to a global museum displayed in the fresh air, it also has a number of statues that derived its look from the history of the city, its personality, culture and Islamic heritage.
What is an Urban Observatory?
