Dubbed Saudi Arabia's commercial epicentre, Jeddah thrives as a bustling port city in the western Hejaz region. Its significant growth dates back to 647 AD, when Caliph Uthman deemed it a major hub for pilgrims journeying to Mecca's sacred grounds. Fast-forward to 2021, and Jeddah pulsates as the Makkah Province's largest city, crowned the second-largest in Saudi Arabia, and carving its niche as the ninth-largest in the Middle East.

The bustling Jeddah Islamic Port on the Red Sea underscores the city's prominence as the world's thirty-sixth largest seaport. Living by its motto, "Jeddah Ghair" (Jeddah is different), this vibrant city serves as the principal gateway to Mecca, Islam's holiest city, and also doubles as a popular resort destination in Saudi Arabia. The moniker 'Jeddah' is believed to stem from the Arabic term for 'grandmother'. Legend hints at the Tomb of Eve, considered humanity's grandmother, being nestled in this noble city.

Teeming with a rich tapestry of history, Jeddah showcases traces of early activity in Thamudic inscriptions. Echoes of its humble beginnings, rooted in the establishment of a small fishing hamlet by the Yemeni Quda'a tribe over 2500 years ago, can be found in the city's bustling souqs. Known as the port of Mecca since AD 647, Jeddah's fortifications by the Ottomans defended against Portuguese attacks in the 16th century. Falling under the Al-Saud dynasty rule in 1925, the city has witnessed substantial urban expansion and infrastructural development in recent years, casting an intriguing blend of tradition and modernisation.