World Heritage Identification Number: 1361
World Heritage since: 2014
Category: Cultural Heritage
Transboundary Heritage: No
Endangered Heritage: No
Country: 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
Continent: Asia
UNESCO World Region: Arab States
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The Gateway to Makkah: A Journey Through Historic Jeddah
Historic Jeddah, officially recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014, stands as a testament to the rich cultural and commercial history that has shaped the city over centuries. Situated on the eastern coast of the Red Sea, this ancient port city has served as a crucial link between the Indian Ocean trade routes and the holy city of Mecca, making it a vibrant melting pot of diverse cultures and architectural styles.
More to come…UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site
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.
Encyclopedia Record: Al-Balad, Jeddah
Al-Balad, also known as Jeddah Historic District, is the historical area of Jeddah, the second largest city of Saudi Arabia. Al-Balad can literally be translated to "The Town". Al-Balad is the historic center of the City of Jeddah.Additional Site Details
Area: 17.92 hectares
(iv) — Outstanding example of a type of building or landscape
(vi) — Directly associated with events or living traditions
Coordinates: 21.4838888889 , 39.1875
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© User:Jpatokal, CC BY-SA 4.0 Resized from original. (This derivative is under the same CC BY-SA license.)
