Marhaban bikum fi Jeddah

Destination airport: King Abdulaziz International Airport JED

Flight duration: 5 h 30 min

4,000 km as the crow flies

Culinary specialities

Kabsa
Saudi Arabia's national dish: aromatic rice, spiced with cloves, cardamom, and cinnamon, served with lamb or chicken. It is traditionally presented on large platters from which everyone eats together.

Current live information

Did you know?

King Abdulaziz International Airport is the main airport in Jeddah and one of the largest in Saudi Arabia. It was opened in 1981 and is particularly known for the enormous Hajj Terminal, which was specifically designed for the annual pilgrimage to Mecca and can accommodate up to 80,000 pilgrims at the same time. The airport was named after the founder of modern Saudi Arabia and serves as an important international hub on the Red Sea. In 2019, a new, modern terminal was opened, which is one of the largest airport buildings in the world.

Places of interest

Jeddah is fascinating with its successful blend of history, religion, and modern urbanity. The Al Rahma Mosque is particularly impressive, having been built directly on stilts over the Red Sea. At high tide, it appears to float above the water – a magical sight, especially at sunset.

The old town of Al-Balad tells the story of Jeddah in a particularly charming way: narrow alleys, traditional houses with artfully decorated wooden facades, and small merchant shops give the district a very unique character. Here, you can still feel the old life of the port city.

A modern landmark of the city is the King Fahd Fountain, which at over 300 metres is considered the tallest water fountain in the world. It is a popular photographic subject, especially in the evening when it shoots up into the sky, brightly illuminated – and a symbol of Jeddah's modern face.

Useless knowledge

• There are reports that some camels simply visit the VIP section of restaurants to enjoy a good lunch.
• Jeddah is known for its vast public sculptures, including an oversized teapot and a gigantic globe.
• Near the airport is the new Jeddah Tower project, which is set to become the world's tallest building in the future.
• The malls have everything – except a sense of time. You go in for „just a quick look“ – six hours later, you leave the building with some perfume, a shisha pipe, and an existential crisis about whether you should perhaps buy gold.