Jeddah was formally designated the sea port for pilgrims travelling to Mecca under Caliph Uthman ibn Affan in 647 CE, and it has served as the principal maritime gateway for millions of pilgrims arriving from Asia and Africa across the Red Sea ever since — earning it the nickname «Bride of the Red Sea».

Its historic Al-Balad district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, preserves multi-storey coral-stone houses adorned with ornate wooden lattice screens known as roshan. Modern Jeddah is known for its long Corniche and King Fahd's Fountain, the tallest water fountain in the world.