Jeddah, Makkah, Hejaz, Saudi Arabia
Historic District · Various · 7th Century - Present
Al-Balad is the historical area of Jeddah, the second largest city of Saudi Arabia. Balad can literally be translated as 'The Town'. It was the center of Jeddah until the 1970s. It is famous for its traditional multi-story buildings built from coral stone with intricate wooden balconies called Roshan.
Construction: 7th Century – Ongoing preservation
Founder: Caliph Uthman (Port establishment)
Significance: The historic center of Jeddah, the gateway to Mecca for pilgrims arriving by sea.
- 647: Established as a port by Caliph Uthman
- 19th Century: Construction of many existing coral houses
- 2014: UNESCO World Heritage inscription
Architectural styles: Hejazi, Ottoman
Materials: Coral Stone, Wood (Roshan)
- Roshan: Intricate wooden latticework balconies and windows.
- Nasseef House: A historic house turned museum.
- Old City Wall Gates: Bab Makkah, Bab al-Madina, etc.
Opening hours: 24 Hours (summer) · 24 Hours (winter) – Shops open late.
- General: €0.00
Accessibility: Partial. Narrow streets.
Official site: https://www.visitsaudi.com/en
Address: Al-Balad, Jeddah 21481, Saudi Arabia
Coordinates: 21.4858, 39.1852