The son of renowned Saudi fashion designer Adnan Akbar, Abdullah Akbar – along with his sister Adwa – is taking the family business forward for a whole new generation of fashion lovers. Here, he shares the top things to do and see in Jeddah, Saudi’s coastal cosmopolitan hub. A city that is a unique blend of tradition and modernity that mirrors the deep changes taking place in the country.
Saudi Arabia is rich in culture, with seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites – one of which, Al Balad, is in Jeddah. Al Balad is Jeddah’s historical quarter, where ancient coral stone houses are being restored, and new heritage-focused galleries, restaurants, luxury stores and cafés are emerging to create a buzzing cultural scene.
Immerse yourself in my city’s rich history and distinct Hijazi architecture, including towers and houses built by the city’s elite merchants in the late 19th century – expect lots of coral stone, wood, roshan box balconies and intricately carved doors. Established as the primary port for trade routes from the Indian Ocean in the 7th century AD, many buildings are up to 400 years old.
Stroll alongside Jeddah’s impossibly blue sea and enjoy the fresh sea air as you’re warmed by the sun – it’s the Jeddah way of life. I visit the Jeddah Corniche all the time. It’s a gorgeous 30km of Red Sea coastline and has lots of things to see and do.
Check out the F1 Jeddah Corniche Circuit, Jeddah Yacht Club & Marina, Al Shallal Theme Park, restaurants, Saudi fashion brands, tennis courts, parks, and loads of food trucks that are always changing. Visit the promenade kiosk to buy my favourite snack – balila, warm chickpeas. They do balila with all sorts of toppings, but I always have it with pickles.
Jeddah has long stretches of sandy beaches with white sand and pristine waters. As well as the public beaches, there are also many private beaches, where you pay an entry fee, and these have sunbeds, restaurants and lots of activities.
At the private beaches, you can also hire all sorts of things – jet skis, boats, volleyballs, racquets. Indigo, La Plage, Silver Sands Beach and OíA Beach are my top picks, but my favourite thing to do is to go to Indigo and hire kayaks with my friends. Most of the families go to Shades Beach at Durrat Al-Arus – as well as sunbeds along the beach, it has gazebos so you can keep cool, padel courts, shisha, a restaurant and an outdoor swimming pool.
My favourite breakfast place is Layla’s Gourmet in the Downtown area. Here, you can buy homemade savoury pastries, sandwiches and cakes. There are lots of Middle Eastern-inspired things on the menu – I love the Sambosa Zaata and Kunafa Nutella.
For the best seafood you will ever taste, go to Sultana – they get the freshest fish ever from the Red Sea. Twina also does great seafood – here you can watch the sunset and the team will even prepare a specific meal by request. For an evening with friends or a date night, Naranj Restaurant is a café and restaurant with relaxed vibes, traditional regional dishes and shisha. And finally, the best coffee can be found at Caffeine Lab.
Best for authentic experiences: Beit Jokhdar, Beit Al Rayess and Beit Kedwan
In March 2024, these three very plush boutique hotels launched in Al Balad. Set in lovingly converted family homes, they have been carefully designed by a team of historians, local artists, carpenters and architects, and are filled with locally sourced products and furnishings.
Best for city views: Assila
A tribute to Saudi’s burgeoning art scene, the hotel houses more than 2,000 pieces of original art by Saudi artists. It’s super sleek, with Middle Eastern accents found throughout, from Arabian-patterned carpets to vibrant tapestries, bespoke handwoven rugs and hanging lanterns.
Best for art lovers: Shada Hotel
A modern Saudi boutique hotel and a female-run homegrown hotel brand, Shada Hotel Al Shatea offers a friendly welcome and a playful design rooted in Saudi culture and tradition. It’s also perfectly located just a short walk away from the Corniche. The brand works with local artists and designers to ensure that the hotel’s public spaces and rooms are filled with nods to different traditions from across Saudi.