Al-Balad District in Jeddah was established in the seventh century representing the historic center of Jeddah City. Jeddah Historic District features various ancient landmarks and heritage buildings of historical significance, such as the old wall of Jeddah, open historical squares, and several historic mosques, including the Mosque of Uthman Ibn Affan, al-Shafi'i Mosque, al-Basha Mosque, Ukash Mosque, al-Mimar Mosque, and al-Hanafi Mosque. The district is also home to traditional markets. The old wall of Jeddah had two main gates, one facing Makkah al-Mukarramah and the other facing the sea. In 2014, the Jeddah Historic District was inscribed on the United Nations Organization for Education, Science, and Culture for World Heritage (UNESCO) World Heritage List.
Jeddah City was originally founded by a group of fishermen who settled there after their fishing trips. With the advent of Islam, The history of Jeddah City became closely intertwined with Islamic history, as it served as the maritime gateway to the holy cities. It gained prominence when Caliph Uthman Ibn Affan (may Allah be pleased with him) designated it as a port for Makkah al-Mukarramah in 647, facilitating trade routes in the Indian Ocean and directing goods to Makkah al-Mukarramah.
Jeddah City stretches more than seventy km from north to south. Historically, the city within the old walls was divided into several neighborhoods, such as Harat al-Mazloom, Harat al-Sham, Harat al-Yemen, Harat al-Bahar, and Harat al-Karantina. The city had gates beyond the surrounding wall, including Bab Makkah, Bab al-Madina, Bab Sharif, Bab Jadid, Bab al-Bint, and Bab al-Maghariba. Jeddah Historic District is located within a wall built by the Mamluk Sultan Qansuh al-Ghuri in 1509. The wall was dismantled in 1947.
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