Jeddah
Jeddah, alternatively transliterated as Jedda, Jiddah or Jidda, is a port city in Makkah Province, Saudi Arabia, located along the Red Sea coast in the Hejaz region. Jeddah is the commercial center of the country. It is not known when Jeddah was founded, but Jeddah's prominence grew in 647 when the Caliph Uthman made it a travel hub serving Muslim travelers going to the holy city of Mecca for Islamic pilgrimage. Since those times, Jeddah has served as the gateway for millions of pilgrims who have arrived in Saudi Arabia, traditionally by sea and recently by air.
Some of the key events about Jeddah
- 647The city was founded as a major port for Indian Ocean trade routes
- 1517The city became part of the Ottoman Empire, enhancing its importance as a trade hub
- 1517Ottoman conquest of Jeddah, ending Mamluk rule
- 1803Wahhabi forces attacked and plundered the city
- 1813Plague outbreak killed thousands of residents
- 1916Ottoman forces bombarded the city during World War I
- 1927The first airport in Saudi Arabia was built in Jeddah
- 1947The city's first deep-water port was constructed
- 1956Major floods caused significant damage and loss of life
- 1967King Abdulaziz University was established in Jeddah
- 1974The Jeddah Islamic Port was opened, becoming one of the largest ports in the world
- 1979Severe flooding led to over 30 deaths and widespread destruction
- 1981The Jeddah Corniche, a 30 km coastal resort area, was developed
- 2009The King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) was inaugurated near Jeddah
- 2009Devastating floods resulted in over 100 fatalities and massive infrastructure damage
- 2011The Jeddah Tower construction began, aiming to become the world's tallest building
- 2011Protests during the Arab Spring led to arrests and unrest
- 2015Crane collapse at the Grand Mosque killed 111 people and injured 394
- 2020COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted the city's economy and public health
- 2021The Jeddah Season festival was launched, becoming a major cultural and entertainment event
Disclaimer: This material is written based on information taken from open sources, including Wikipedia, news media, podcasts, and other public sources.