The seventh century historic downtown district, with its mud and coral townhouses and ornate wooden balconies, holds the only remnants of traditional Hijazi architecture and still serves the more modern retail business district.

Downtown Jeddah, known as Al-Balad, was not only a hub for commercial activity in the past, but was the epicenter of social, political and diplomatic activity in the city.

Diplomatic missions used to exist in the area, which also houses prominent merchant families.

It was a power center during the time when the “wali” system of governance of the Ottoman empire prevailed. It was also where King Abdulaziz, the Kingdom’s founder, resided.

“Expats who want to know about the city’s history and tradition come here,” said Samir Qamasani, head of the tourist guides for the Jeddah Heritage Festival.

He said that the Jeddah Governorate and the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiques (SCTA) have anticipated the influx of foreigner visitors to the festival and have arranged for tour guides to help visitors make their way around. “Our tour guides speak English, French and Japanese and we have trained 28 young Saudis for this purpose,” Qamasani said.

He said that thousands of foreign visitors have visited downtown Jeddah since the start of the festival.

He said that there is an increase in expat and foreign visitors to heritage sites that are attractions in themselves.

The head of one team of tour guides revealed that “foreign visitors ask questions regarding food, clothing and dated social patterns, in addition to the geography of the old city and old structures that are now shops. Foreigners are also keen to know about the Al-Sham, Mazlum, Al-Bahr and Yemen gates prior to the demolition of the wall in 1947.”

Qamasani also said that “many foreigners were surprised to learn that Al-Balad once housed many consulates and foreign diplomatic missions for a period spanning 176 years.”

He said that the military and diplomatic French mission of 1838 was hosted in the downtown area.