Every life is a story, carved by the places that shape it. Jeddah, Saudi Arabia's Red Sea port, is a city where history hums and the future beckons. A centuries-old gateway for pilgrims and traders, it weaves Arabian tradition with a cosmopolitan pulse that's welcomed the world for generations.
Now, through Vision 2030, Jeddah is reawakening, blending its storied past with fearless ambition. Its vibrant souks, coral houses, and modern dreams inspired our Global Citizens Collection. This is a city where heritage meets horizon, where global citizens find a home rooted in Arabia's heart.
A Port That Welcomed the World
Jeddah's story is written in salt and sand. For over a millennium, its Red Sea shores have been a crossroads for pilgrims journeying to Mecca and traders linking Africa, Asia, and Europe. By the 7th century, it was the port for the holy cities, its name meaning "grandmother" in Arabic, tied to legends of Eve's resting place.
Merchants from Yemen, India, and the Levant filled its souks with spices, silks, and tales, building coral-stone homes in Al-Balad that still stand as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This wasn't a sterile trading post. It was a living tapestry, where Bedouin hospitality met global voices over qahwa and commerce.
Jeddah's open gates shaped its soul, a city that embraced strangers while staying fiercely Arabian. That legacy of connection and pride drew us to include it in our collection.
A Bold Awakening
Jeddah doesn't follow trends. It sets them. Vision 2030, launched in 2016, has ignited a transformation, building on Jeddah's history as a cultural and economic hub. The city is shedding old constraints while honoring its roots.
In 2018, women gained the right to drive, a shift felt deeply in Jeddah's vibrant streets, where they've long been artists, entrepreneurs, and leaders. Cinemas reopened after decades, with screens lighting up in malls and historic districts. The Jeddah Season festival, launched in 2019, fills the city with art, music, and food, drawing millions to a waterfront that pulses with life.
By 2025, new investment laws have opened doors for foreigners to engage with Jeddah's economy, reflecting its historic role as a global meeting point. The Red Sea Project, a luxury tourism venture, and Jeddah Central, a cultural and commercial megaproject, signal a city reaching for the future without forgetting its past.
A City That Breathes Its History
Jeddah's charm is its depth. Wander Al-Balad's narrow alleys, and you'll find coral houses with wooden balconies, each telling stories of traders and pilgrims. The Al-Rajhi Grand Mosque stands as a spiritual anchor, its minarets soaring above a city that welcomes all faiths.
The Corniche, stretching along the Red Sea, buzzes with families, joggers, and artists, while sculptures by Miró and Moore dot the waterfront, a nod to Jeddah's love for global art. The Floating Mosque, perched on the water's edge, blends faith with beauty.
From the historic Fish Market to the modern Red Sea Mall, Jeddah balances tradition and progress, offering souks filled with oud and skyscrapers hosting global firms. This is a city that doesn't just host the world. It absorbs it, remaking itself while staying true to its Arabian core.
Why Jeddah Sparked Our Vision
Jeddah inspired our Global Citizens Collection because it lives its history while writing its future. It's a city where the Red Sea carries echoes of ancient trade and modern ambition, where coral houses stand beside gleaming towers, where hospitality is a promise kept for centuries.
Jeddah doesn't chase the world's approval. Its open gates, vibrant markets, and bold projects like the Red Sea development show a city that's Arabian at its core yet unafraid to evolve.
This is global citizenship, Jeddah-style: a place where stories from every corner of the globe weave into a tapestry that's distinctly Saudi, inviting all to belong without losing their roots.
