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Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Jeddah
جدة
City
Collage of Jeddah
Collage of Jeddah
Nickname(s): The bride of the Red Sea
Motto: Jeddah Is Different
Jeddah is located in Saudi Arabia
Jeddah
Jeddah
Location in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Coordinates: 21°32′36″N 39°10′22″E / 21.54333°N 39.17278°E / 21.54333; 39.17278Coordinates: 21°32′36″N 39°10′22″E / 21.54333°N 39.17278°E / 21.54333; 39.17278
Country Saudi Arabia
Region Makkah (Mecca)
Established From the 6th century BC
Government
 • City Mayor Hani Abu Ras
 • City Governor Mish'al Al-Saud
 • Provincial Governor Khaled Al-Faisal
Area
 • City 1,600 km2 (600 sq mi)
 • Urban 1,686 km2 (651 sq mi)
 • Metro 47 km2 (18 sq mi)
Elevation 12 m (39 ft)
Population (2014)
 • City 4,276,000
 • Density 2,700/km2 (6,900/sq mi)
Time zone AST (UTC+3)
 • Summer (DST) AST (UTC)
Postal Code (5 digit codes beginning with 23; e.g. 23434)
Area code(s) +966-12
Website www.jeddah.gov.sa/english/index.php
Official name Historic Jeddah, the Gate to Makkah
Type Cultural
Criteria ii, iv, vi
Designated 2014 (38th session)
Reference no. 1361
State Party Saudi Arabia
Region Arab States

Jeddah (sometimes spelled Jiddah or Jedda ; English pronunciation: /ˈɛdə/; Arabic: جدة‎‎ Jidda Hejazi pronunciation: [d͡ʒe̞dda]) is a city in the Hijaz Tihamah region on the coast of the Red Sea and is the major urban center of western Saudi Arabia. It is the largest city in Makkah Province, the largest sea port on the Red Sea, and the second-largest city in Saudi Arabia after the capital city, Riyadh. With a population currently at 4.2 million people, Jeddah is an important commercial hub in Saudi Arabia.

Jeddah is the principal gateway to Mecca, Islam's holiest city, which able-bodied Muslims are required to visit at least once in their lifetime. It is also a gateway to Medina, the second holiest place in Islam.

Economically, Jeddah is focusing on further developing capital investment in scientific and engineering leadership within Saudi Arabia, and the Middle East. Jeddah was independently ranked fourth in the Africa – Mid-East region in terms of innovation in 2009 in the Innovation Cities Index.

Jeddah is one of Saudi Arabia's primary resort cities and was named a Gamma world city by the Globalization and World Cities Study Group and Network (GaWC). Given the city's close proximity to the Red Sea, fishing and seafood dominates the food culture unlike other parts of the country. The city has been labeled as "different" by the majority of Saudis in an effort to promote tourism in the city, that had been previously perceived as "most open" city in Saudi Arabia.


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