Jeddah

Jeddah is the commercial capital of Saudi Arabia, the largest country and the biggest market among the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states.

Situated on the western coast of Saudi Arabia, where the climate is moderated by the Red Sea, Jeddah is located at the heart of the region, positioning the city as the main center of commerce in the Middle East and North Africa with all of MENA's capitals within two hours flying distance.

Historically the city owes its origins to a navigable gap in the Red Sea reef that enabled pilgrims to arrive by sea en route to Makkah which is located only 70 kilometers inland from Jeddah. The landing place grew into a trading post for rices and spices, cottons and silks, perfumes and precious metals. In the ancient centre of Jeddah the old coral stone houses once occupied by the great merchant families can still be seen, built high to catch the cooling sea breezes through their wood trellised window screens.

Today, Jeddah is a modern city of more that two million people, swelling by another million during Hajj, the time of the annual pilgrimage to Makkah. Stretching along the shores of the Red Sea with a palm fringed corniche road bordered by villas, palaces, hotels and beach resorts, and developing inland towards the mountains that form a backdrop to the city, Jeddah is a wealthy, thriving cosmopolitan city with every luxury and world class facilities.