IIE Teachers Tour of Jeddah

Author: Aramco ExPats
Released 30 June 2005

A Tour of Jeddah

Old Jeddah
Photograph by Aramco ExPats

The second largest city in Saudi Arabia after Riyadh is Jeddah. Located along ancient trade routes in the Western Province of Saudi Arabia, Jeddah is ideally located on the Red Sea making it the Kingdom's principal seaport with a rich history of trade and commerce, and the original gateway to the holy cities of Makkah and Madina.

The history of Jeddah dates back to about 2,500 years ago when it was a tiny fishing village inhabited by the Quada'a tribe. The village was situated so strategically that it soon became a center of commerce facilitating trade between the Mediterranean and the Eastern countries. It is also said to be one of the most ancient cities in Arabia dating back to Adam and Eve. In fact, one popular pronunciation of the city's name is "Jadda" meaning grandmother referring to the mother of mankind, Eve. Tradition recounts that Eve came to live in Jeddah after her expulsion from Paradise and is buried there.

Jeddah acquired even greater importance when in AD 647; Caliph Othman bin Affan declared it the official port of Makkah which not only brought increased trade and commerce to the city, but altered the fabric of Jeddah's cultural heritage by crowding it with pilgrims from around the world; many whom would settle in Jeddah.

In the 16th century, the Ottomans built a stone wall around the town in an effort to fortify it against attacks from the Portuguese. Four gates provided access to the walled town, Bab Sherif opening towards the south, Bab Makkah facing east, Bab Madinah to the north, and a west gate facing the Red Sea (Bab Jadeed, the new gate, was not built until the early 1900s). Jeddah remained a fortified walled town for centuries of Turkish rule and was not relinquished until 1915. Even after the walls were torn down to allow for expansion, Jeddah is often referred to as "the city surrounded by walls."

Jeddah is said to be a city of mystery, rich with tradition, history, culture and a unique heritage. In the past 20 years, rapid expansion has transformed Jeddah into a thriving industrial and active commercial center, and the most cosmopolitan city in Saudi Arabia. But Jeddah has not forgotten its past. Set up in 1990, the Historical Area Preservation Department aims to protect the city's architecture and heritage. Now Jeddah is a fascinating mix of modernism and traditional charm. It boasts beautiful examples of modern architecture while preserving its original charm and uniqueness.

Jeddah Historical Area

Nasif House
Photograph by Aramco ExPats

Following lunch hosted by Dr. Nahid Taher, a prominent Saudi businessman, guests toured Jeddah Historical Area.

Nowhere else is the charm and uniqueness of Jeddah more evident then when you walk down the narrow streets of "Old Jeddah" lined with buildings, some three or four hundred years old. These tall and graceful structures, many reaching five stories tall, were made of coral limestone and beautifully intricate wooden facades. The coral was quarried right from the reef just off the sea shore. Entire sea shells are visible embedded within the coral. The buildings were built tall to provide access to the breeze above and shade from the streets below.

Old Jeddah is also infused with the scent of spices and incense emanating from the open air market or suq. The suq vendors display their wares, grouped according to trade, in open-fronted shops along the street offering an exciting and picturesque look at the bustling trading center of the traditional Jeddah.

Nasif House

Nasif House is a magnificent ancient mansion exquisitely crafted and exhibiting the finest example of Old Jeddah architecture. Designed by a Jeddah master-builder of the day, it is built of coral limestone tied by teak beams. Recently renovated to be a cultural center offering special exhibits and lectures, the rooms of the Nasif House now display works of art, some on wood and tile, and works of Arabic calligraphy.

Nasif House was constructed between 1872 and 1881 for Sheikh Omar Effendi Nasif, then governor of Jeddah. It was here that King Abdul Aziz bin Abudul Rahman al Saud (Ibn Saud) spent his first night in Jeddah as the guest of Nasif, after he lead his victorious army into the capital of the western province in 1925. The tree in the square outside the front door is now the oldest and was once the only tree in Jeddah.

One of the heirs, Sheikh Muhammad, turned Nasif House into a private library that eventually accumulated 16,000 books, which could be read by anyone visiting him. Today these books belong to the King Abdul Aziz University Library. The house belonged to the Nasif family until 1975. It is now considered a symbol of Jeddah's rich past.

New Jeddah

New Jeddah
Photograph by Aramco ExPats

Jeddah now "hums, glitters and resounds with industry, technology and cosmopolitan human life." Tree-lined avenues, squares, courtyards, and the beautiful Corniche adorned with over 400 open-air sculptures along the Red Sea coast attest to the success of the city's beautification projects. Also as spectacular is the King Fahd Fountain spouting from the Red Sea and visible for miles around.

Jeddah is also teaming with some of the finest restaurants, shops, and accommodations making it a popular tourist and vacation destination.

Al-Nakheel Village and Hejazi Folkloric Night

Cane or Stick Dancing - Mock Combat
Photograph by Aramco ExPats

After a day of visiting historic Jeddah, we were treated to a wonderful Arabic dinner with Arabic dancing and music outside by the sea. Dancers were performing numerous different traditional dances including the cane dance and the sword dance.

Cane dancing takes its movements from the activities of farming, shepherding, and real or mock combat.

One common comment among the visiting teachers was not only were we having a wonderful time, the Saudis were having an equally good time at the dinner and dancing.

Society of Children with Special Needs

There are currently five non-profit centers for the Society of Children with Special Needs in Saudi Arabia. The objective of the centers are:

Establishment of specialized centers to provide comprehensive services for disabled children including therapeutic, educational and rehabilitation services.
Play effective role in enlightening the society of the causes of disability and means of protection.

The Jeddah branch was very impressive center where the staff not only teaches the children to live within the society, but they also teach the family how to care for the child within their own home. The aim is to enable the children to reach their full potential and to teach the parent to participate in the child's habilitation program to ensure continuity.

A couple of the IIE teachers remarked that the center was one of the most meaningful and enlightening places that we visited on the tour.

Dar Al-Hekma Girls College

Inaugurated in 2000, Dar Al-Hikmah College, a new private college for girls, became the fourth private institution of higher education to be established in Saudi Arabia that year. Academic programs include a college preparatory program, a general education core curriculum, and academic majors in interior design, business information systems, and special education. The College plans to develop broader specializations in other areas of study such as e-business and health care. All courses are taught in English except Arabic and Islamic Studies.

The blue print for Dar Al-Hekma College was created with the assistance from the Texas International Education Consortium.

Before being given a tour of the school, young college women gave us an overview of the college ending with a poem written by student Fatima Khan.

21st Century - The Age of Revolution for Women
by Fatima Khan

Women the foundation of society from the time of Adam - oppressed no more
Raised to power
Raised to compete in a mans world
Raised to challenge - challenge centuries old ideology to mold the future
A future of uncertainty made certain by knowledge
Knowledge is power brought on by education
Uncertain no more.

Jeddah Chamber of Commerce

Dr. Nadia Baeshen
Photograph by Aramco ExPats

In 1991 the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce opened its doors for business women. By 1994 the Chamber started an ambitious training center to help train and educate the business women, the entrepreneurs and the job seekers in specific professions such as banking and hospital administration as well as a wide variety of managerial and supervisory skills.

In 1997, the training center became a Mecca of training women in computer, presentation, office management and executive secretarial skills. With the turn of the century, the first official business women committee in Jeddah was formed under the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce umbrella to mark a new era for professional women in all fields.

Led by HRH Princess Adilah Bint Abdullah, prominent business and professional women volunteered their time and effort to lay the grounds to allow the Saudi business women to play an active role in economic plans and development.

The first official business women center was opened in 2004 with the objective to properly serve, support, assist and empower women. The center was named after the first wife of Prophet Mohammed, Al-Sayeddah Khadija Bint Khowailid, who was a famous and successful business woman in her time.

Safia Binzagr Art Gallery

Rachele Esola and Antoinette Whytoshek
Photograph by Aramco ExPats

Before having a delightful seafood dinner by the Red Sea, hosted by Mr. Emad Megharbel, CEO of the Jeddah Marketing Board, we stopped by the Safia Binzagr Art Gallery.

Born in Jiddah, Safeya Binzagr was education in Cairo and the UK. She is considered one of the pioneers in the movement of fine arts in Saudi Arabia. Her long career as an artist began with her first exhibition in 1968 which she held in Jeddah. The response to her first exhibition was overwhelming, but that was only the beginning. For 30 years, Safeya Binzagr has dedicated her life and art to the preservation of the heritage of Saudi Arabia.

Read Painting Cultural History by Nimah Ismail Nawwab

Samar Fattani

After spending a Shop To You Drop morning in Old Jeddah Suq we were treated to lunch hosted by Samar Fattani at the Byblos Restaurant. Before lunch, Samar Fattani, radio journalist and writer, read us an article that she wrote about Saudi youth entitled Protect Youth From Advocates of Terrorism.

Departure

Henna
Photograph by Aramco ExPats

With our hands and arms painted with henna, our tour came to an end. We all said ma'asalama and shrukran to our many hosts and guides.

As John Etheridge wrote to me afterward, "Of all the places I have ever visited in the world, Saudi Arabia is far above them in first place."

Aramco Expats