Middle East
Jeddah
The gateway city for every Saudi pilgrimage, and worth a night of its own for the old town and the corniche.
Overview
Almost every Nigerian pilgrim arrives in Saudi Arabia through King Abdulaziz International Airport, and the Hajj terminal on its northern side is built specifically for pilgrimage traffic. Jeddah itself is a coastal city with a very different character from the holy cities, mixing coral-stone merchant houses with a long seafront promenade.
We often add a night in Jeddah at the end of an Umrah trip, particularly for groups flying home on a morning departure. Al-Balad, the old quarter, is now a Unesco site and is at its best after sunset when the shutters come up on the spice and fabric shops.
Things to see and do
Al-Balad old town
Coral-stone houses with carved wooden balconies, a restored souq and several small museums. Go in the evening and allow two hours.
Jeddah Corniche
A thirty-kilometre seafront with parks, sculptures and the King Fahd Fountain. Popular with families after Isha.
Floating Mosque
Al-Rahmah Mosque sits on stilts over the Red Sea and is one of the most photographed buildings in the city.
Good to know
- Allow three hours between landing and your onward coach to Makkah during Hajj season. Immigration in the pilgrim terminal is slower than the main hall.
- Airport taxis are metered but the app-based options are usually cheaper and easier to explain in English.
- If you are travelling in ihram, change at the airport rather than in the aircraft. There is a dedicated area on the arrivals level.
