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Jeddah

City in Saudi ArabiaJeddah lies on the Red Sea coast of western Saudi Arabia, in the Hejaz region. Mecca is about 65 km inland to the east, and Medina about 360 km to the north.

What it's known for

Jeddah is Saudi Arabia's main commercial centre and the principal gateway to Mecca. In 647, Caliph Uthman made it the main port for travellers to Mecca, and it became the historic port for pilgrims arriving by sea for the Hajj.

Fun facts

  1. The name is usually linked to the Arabic word 'jaddah', meaning 'grandmother', and folk belief places the Tomb of Eve in the city.
  2. Al-Balad, the old city of tall traditional merchant houses, became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014.
  3. The Fahd Fountain in Jeddah sends a jet of water up to 312 m into the air.

Finding it on the globe

Look about halfway down Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast: Jeddah is right on the water, just west of Mecca.

Easy to mix up

Jeddah is Saudi Arabia's second-largest city, but the capital is Riyadh, about 850 km to the east-north-east.

Sources: Wikipedia: Jeddah, Wikipedia: Riyadh