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Voykit pocket guide · Saudi Arabia
Jeddah
جدة
Use Jeddah as the Red Sea gateway: two nights for the old town of Al-Balad and the corniche, or as the arrival airport for Umrah and Hajj.
Jeddah is Saudi Arabia's main Red Sea port and second-largest city. Al-Balad, its historic coastal quarter of coral-stone merchant houses, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The city is also the main air gateway for pilgrims travelling on to Mecca and Medina, and its long corniche has open-air sculptures and the King Fahd's Fountain, one of the world's tallest.
- Country
- Saudi Arabia
- Local name
- جدة
- Best months
- Nov–Mar
- Avoid
- Jun–Sep (very hot and humid)
- Stay
- 2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- SAR
- Money
- SAR (riyal) is pegged to the US dollar at about 3.75.
- SIM and data
- STC, Mobily and Zain sell tourist SIMs at arrivals; passport and fingerprint registration are required.
- Emergency
- Unified emergency 911 · Police 999 · Ambulance (Red Crescent) 997 · Civil defence (fire) 998 · Traffic accidents 993
- Plugs
- Types G, C, F · 230 V · 60 Hz · UK-style three-pin (G) is the standard; older buildings may have European sockets. Bring a universal adapter.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: 10% if no service charge; small change at cafés.; Ride-hailing / taxi: Round up or tip in the app.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: SAR 5–10.; Guide / driver day: SAR 50–100 guide; SAR 30–50 driver.; Fuel station attendant: SAR 2–5 if they clean the windows.
- Water
- Tap water is desalinated and treated; most people drink bottled water, sold everywhere for SAR 1–2.
- Toilets
- Western toilets with a hand shower in malls, hotels and mosques; squat toilets at older fuel stations. Malls and mosques are the free public options.
Get in
By air
- JED · King Abdulaziz International
- Large hub with a separate Hajj terminal; check transfer options with your operator
Get around
Taxis and ride-hailing apps are the norm; the city has no metro system yet and is spread along the coast, built for cars. A car with driver helps for a day that covers both Al-Balad and the corniche.
See and do
Known for
- Al-Balad historic district (UNESCO)
- Corniche and waterfront sculptures
- King Fahd's Fountain
- Red Sea diving and snorkelling
- Gateway for pilgrims travelling to Mecca and Medina
Sleep
- Corniche
- Waterfront hotels and promenade; car needed for most sights.
- Near Al-Balad
- Walkable to the old town; fewer hotel choices.
Language
Arabic is the only official language, written right to left. English is widely used in airports, hotels, malls and among younger Saudis; many service workers speak Hindi/Urdu, Tagalog or Bengali. A few Arabic greetings go a long way.
- Hello: as-salamu alaykum; reply wa alaykum as-salam. Thank you: shukran.
- Street addresses use the National Address short code; a map pin is the reliable way.
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Say as-salamu alaykum; wait for a woman to offer her hand first; avoid: Hugging or touching the opposite sex
- Hospitality: Accept coffee and dates; eat with the right hand; avoid: Refusing all offers or showing the soles of your feet
- Prayer times: Wait quietly when shops close; step aside for people praying; avoid: Walking in front of people praying; loud music near mosques
- Dress: Loose, covering clothes in public; headscarf in mosques; avoid: Shorts, sleeveless tops and swimwear in town
- Photos: Ask before photographing people; avoid: Photographing women, families or official buildings
- Conversation: Talk about family, food, football, travel; avoid: Criticising religion, the royal family or the government
- Queues and sections: Follow signs for family and women's sections where they exist; avoid: Entering women-only areas
Scams and watch-outs
- Dress modestly and follow local rules in public; check current requirements before travel.
- Summer heat and humidity are severe; plan outdoor visits for early morning or evening.
- Check current e-visa and entry rules on the official visa portal.
- Alcohol is illegal throughout Saudi Arabia; do not bring or expect to find it.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Jeddah yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Al-Balad historic district (UNESCO)
- Corniche and waterfront sculptures
- King Fahd's Fountain
- Red Sea diving and snorkelling
- Gateway for pilgrims travelling to Mecca and Medina
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Visit Saudi: www.visitsaudi.com/
- Wikivoyage — Jeddah: en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Jeddah
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/jeddah). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.