Jeddah

Jeddah (also spelled Jedda, Jiddah, Jidda, or Juddah; جدّة Ǧiddah) is a Saudi Arabian city. It is on the coast of the Red Sea (21.50° N 39.1667° E). It is the major urban center in western Saudi Arabia. Jeddah is the largest city in the Western Province, and the second largest city in Saudi Arabia after the capital city Riyadh. The city has over 3.4 million people. It is seen as the business capital of Saudi Arabia and the richest city in the Middle East and western Asia.

جدّة Jidda
City
Jeddah Seafront.jpg
 
Coordinates: 21°32′36″N 39°10′22″E / 21.54333°N 39.17278°E / 21.54333; 39.17278Coordinates: 21°32′36″N 39°10′22″E / 21.54333°N 39.17278°E / 21.54333; 39.17278
CountrySaudi Arabia
ProvinceMakkah (Mecca)
EstablishedFrom the 6th century BC
Joined Saudi Arabia1925
Government
 • City MayorHani Abu Ras[1]
 • Governorate MayorSaleh Al-Turki[2]
Area
 • City1,570 km2 (610 sq mi)
 • Urban
1,686 km2 (651 sq mi)
 • Metro
3,000 km2 (1,000 sq mi)
Elevation
12 m (39 ft)
Population
 (2012)
 • City5,112,018
 • Density2,921/km2 (1,826/sq mi)
 • Urban
3,855,912
 • Metro
5,318,636
 Jeddah City estimate
Time zoneUTC+3 (EAT)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EAT)
Postal Code
(5 digits)
WebsiteJeddah Municipality

Jeddah is the main gateway to Mecca, the holiest city of Islam, where able-bodied Muslims must go to at least once in a lifetime.

Sister cities

Jeddah has 23 sister cities (aka "twin towns"):

Jeddah Media

References

  1. "Abu Ras promises new Jeddah". Saudigazette.com.sa. 2010-08-19. Archived from the original on 2014-12-14. Retrieved 2011-04-17.
  2. "Saleh Al-Turki, mayor of Jeddah". arabnews.com. Saudi Research & Publishing Company. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 7 January 2021.