Al-Balad, Jeddah
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Al-Balad (), also known as Jeddah Historic District (), is the historical area of
Jeddah Jeddah ( ), alternatively transliterated as Jedda, Jiddah or Jidda ( ; , ), is a List of governorates of Saudi Arabia, governorate and the largest city in Mecca Province, Saudi Arabia, and the country's second largest city after Riyadh, located ...
, 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.Baker, Razan.
Tales of Old Jeddah
" ''
Arab News ''Arab News'' is an English-language daily newspaper published in Saudi Arabia. It is published from Riyadh. The target audiences of the paper, which is published in broadsheet format, are businesspeople, executives and diplomats. At least as ...
''. Thursday 25 January 2007 (06
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1428). Retrieved on 25 August 2009.
Traditional Hijazi houses are characterized by their wooden Roshan () windows and balconies, which are similar to the
Mashrabiya A ''mashrabiya'' or ''mashrabiyya'' () is an architectural element which is characteristic of traditional Islamic architecture, architecture in the Islamic world and beyond. It is a type of projecting oriel window enclosed with carved wood latti ...
found in Egypt, Iraq and other countries, and to the Gallarija found in Malta (which is a descendant of the Muxrabija). In May 2019,
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Mohammed bin Salman Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud (; born 31 August 1985), also known as MBS or MbS, is the ''de facto'' ruler of the Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, formally serving as Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Sa ...
announced a multi-billion dollar restoration of 56 historical building in Al-Balad. The first stage of the restoration is worth $13.3 million. In October 2023 and in line with Saudi Vision 2030, The Saudi
Public Investment Fund The Public Investment Fund (PIF; ) is the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia. It is among the largest sovereign wealth funds in the world with total estimated assets of billion. It was created in 1971 for the purpose of investing funds on be ...
announced Al Balad Development Company, which aims to transform Historic Jeddah into a global tourist destination.


History

Jeddah in 1938 Al-Balad was founded in the 7th century and historically served as the centre of Jeddah. Al-Balad's defensive walls were torn down in the 1940s. In the 1970s and 1980s, when Jeddah began to become wealthier due to the oil boom, many Jeddawis moved north, away from Al-Balad,Bradley 15. as it reminded them of less prosperous times.Bradley 16. Al-Balad had insufficient parking space for large cars. Its stores did not sell expensive designer clothing. Poor immigrants moved in place of the Saudi population. The municipality of Jeddah began historical preservation efforts in the 1970s. In 1991 the Municipality of Jeddah founded the Jeddah Historical Preservation Society to preserve the historical architecture and culture of Al-Balad. In 2002, US$4 million were earmarked for the preservation society. In 2009, Al-Balad was nominated by Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities to be added to UNESCO's World Heritage list, and it was accepted in 2014. Many Jeddawis had moved away from Al-Balad by 2007; the streets of Balad were still packed with people during the month of
Ramadan Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting (''Fasting in Islam, sawm''), communal prayer (salah), reflection, and community. It is also the month in which the Quran is believed ...
. Around that year the Jeddah Urban Development Company was formed to restore Al-Balad.


Historical neighborhoods

Al-Balad is mainly divided into number of different districts: * Al-Mazloum neighborhood: This neighborhood was named after Abdulkarim al-Barzanji, who was killed by the Ottoman government and located in the north-eastern part of area north of Al-Alawi Street, with Dar Al-Qabal, Al-Shafi'i Mosque and Souk Al-Jamaa. * Al-Sham neighborhood: Located in the northern part of Al-Balad which includes this neighborhood Dar al-Sarti and Dar al-Zahid. * Al-Yemen neighborhood: Located in the southern part of Al-Balad south of Al-Alawi Street and gained its name towards the country of Yemen , it includes Dar Al-Nassif, Dar Al-Jumjum, Dar Al-Shaarawi and Dar Al-Abdul-Samad. * Al-Bahr neighborhood: Located in the south-western part of Jeddah, overlooking the sea and the Dar Al-Radwan House, known at the time as the Radwan of Sea.


Historical houses

Naseef House, 2020 Among the most famous and oldest buildings to date are the Al Nassif House and Al Jamjoom House in Yemen neighborhood, Al Baeshen House, Al Qabal Mosque, Al Shafi'i Mosque in Al Mazloum, Dar Al Banaja and Al Zahed Houses in the Al Sham neighborhood. Some of these buildings have risen to more than 30 meters. Their construction is still in good condition after decades. Jeddah Old City is a home for 500-year-old buildings that are now subject to restoration as the Saudi crown prince Muhammad bin Salman pledged an amount of $13.3 million to restore 56 buildings. The restoration project will be implemented by the Ministry of Culture. The aim of the project is to boost the artistic culture in Saudi Arabia. In May 2024, Jeddah Historic District Program announced the restoration of 3 historical houses, which are the Jokhdar House, Al-Rayyis House, and Kedwan House, and turning them into luxury
hotel A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. Facilities provided inside a hotel room may range from a modest-quality mattress in a small room to large suites with bigger, higher-quality beds, a dresser, a re ...
s. The restoration was supervised by the
ministry of culture Ministry of Culture may refer to: * Ministry of Tourism, Cultural Affairs, Youth and Sports (Albania) * Ministry of Culture (Algeria) * Ministry of Culture (Argentina) * Minister for the Arts (Australia) * Ministry of Culture (Azerbaijan)Ministry o ...
, which assigned Al Balad Development Company to manage the hotels.


Non-Muslim Cemetery

The Non-Muslim Cemetery (formerly known as the Christian Cemetery) is located on the King Fahd Branch Road in Al-Balad. The cemetery is hidden from sight by a wall and high trees. The supervision of the site is the responsibility of Western consulates in Jeddah. The cemetery contains more than 400 graves, including a sarcophagus dedicated to the French explorer Charles Huber and a single
Commonwealth War Graves Commission The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) is an intergovernmental organisation of six independent member states whose principal function is to mark, record and maintain the graves and places of commemoration of Commonwealth of Nations mil ...
gravestone for a British soldier of the
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. Cyril Ousman, the British Vice-consul of Jeddah who was shot and killed by Prince Mishari bin Abdulaziz Al Saud is also buried here. Recent burials have been rare and infrequent, and are mostly of Indian and Filipino children. The cemetery has existed since the 16th century when it was used to bury Portuguese casualties resulting from the Ottoman–Portuguese wars. The walls of the cemetery may have been built by
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in the aftermath of the Ottoman–Saudi wars of the 1810s. The cemetery was vandalised following the Battle of Jeddah in 1925.


Gallery

Image:Old Jeddah (Al Balad), Saudi Arabia in November 2022.jpg, Antiques house in Al-Balad File: البلد جدة.jpg, Makkah Gate File:Market street in old Jedddah, Saudi Arabia, on Friday morning (2) (50703555462).jpg, Market street, 2020 File:Old Jeddah Gate November 2022.jpg, Al-Madinah Gate, 2022 File:Market street in old Jeddah with al-Mimar Mosque in the background, Saudi Arabia (1) (50703470911).jpg, Market street with mosque and tower house, 2020 Image:Ruins_in_Al_Balad.JPG, Ruins in Al-Balad Image:Traditional house interior in Historic Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.jpg, Traditional house interior in Al-Balad Image:Palace of the King. (4264825911).jpg, Royal building in Al-Balad Image:Green woodwork in old Jeddah (Al Balad) October 8 2021.jpg, Beit Noor Wali in Al-Yemen Neighborhood Image:Beit Bajanaid.jpg, Bait Bajanaid File:Jeddah - Bait Amir Al Bahr during reconstruction (1).jpg, Beit Amir Al Bahr (House of the Prince of the Sea) during reconstruction, 2020 File:Elaborately carved wooden door, old Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (2) (50702743003).jpg, Elaborately carved wooden door File:Historic Jeddah sign 2022.jpg, Sign containing Old Jeddah seal, in addition to
UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and International secur ...
logo


Misk Historic Jeddah Initiative

It is an annual event that takes place at Jeddah's historical area. The main aim of the event is to highlight the historical and cultural significance of AL-Balad. During the event, visitors walk through the old streets and alleys. Moreover, the initiative organizes a number of traditional entertainment activities for kids and adults. Being part of the Jeddah Season touristic festival 2019, Al-Balad hosted a number of events, all of which are organized under the title "Kanz Al-Balad". Kanz Al-Balad is a scavenger hunt in which participants are asked to find particular places or objects. Along the game, participants can enjoy attending more than 41 shows and plays in the area.


See also

* List of World Heritage Sites in Saudi Arabia * Jeddah Central


Notes


References

* Bradley, John R. ''Saudi Arabia Exposed: Inside a Kingdom in Crisis''. ''
Palgrave Macmillan Palgrave Macmillan is a British academic and trade publishing company headquartered in the London Borough of Camden. Its programme includes textbooks, journals, monographs, professional and reference works in print and online. It maintains offi ...
''. 2005.


External links


جده التاريخيه ثلاثية الابعاد (jeddah albalad 3d model)
{{World Heritage Sites in Saudi Arabia Neighbourhoods in Jeddah Arabic architecture