Where the heck is Hijaz anyway?

Well, Hijaz is the northwestern region of Saudi Arabia. Jeddah, my city, is an important urban location in Hijaz and the largest city in the region (over 3.4 million people). The two most important cities in the region, however, are Mecca and Medina, which are Islam’s holiest places.

Essentially, I think that everybody is proud of where they are from, and that definitely applies to me as well. Being from Hijaz, and especially from Jeddah, has colored my identity and perception of the world. It absolutely defined who I am and who I will become, forever. I believe, as many others do, that Jeddah is the most cosmopolitan and open-minded city in Saudi Arabia.

Apparently, Wikipedia, agrees with me:

"Popular Saudi opinion regards Jeddah as the most liberal and cosmopolitan of Saudi cities in spite of its historic role as port and gateway to the holy city of Mecca. For over one thousand years, Jeddah has received thousands of pilgrims of different ethnicities and backgrounds -- from Africa, Central Asia, Southeast Asia -- many of whom remained and became citizens of the city. As a result, Jeddah is much more ethnically diverse than most Saudi cities and its culture more eclectic in nature (in contrast with the more geographically isolated and homogeneous -- and religiously strict capital Riyadh)."

I grew up close to the beach, (Jeddah is located on the Red Sea) and have enjoyed the many fun sea activities this city offers. Jet skies and boats of all sizes roam the sea on every month of the year (nick name of the city is: Mermaid of the Red Sea). One thing that I have never loved or appreciated, though, is the humidity and the heat. It is fun if you are tanning, sure, but not on a daily basis. Jeddah, has many great things to offer, but like every other city, it has its ugly side: sharp contrast between the rich and poor, lack of quality research and educational facilities (in my opinion) and a sharp surge of private consumption, which is evident in the development of one mall after another. I believe that Jeddah has hundreds of malls, although I couldn’t find any official numbers to confirm that.

That’s it for now about Hijaz and Jeddah, more to follow for sure.

Comments

[Abu Sinan]

Great posts. The more I read your blog the more impressed I am. In Saudi there seems to be a lot of regional bigotry.

I remember my sister in law, who is a professor at a university in Jeddah, telling me a story about when she visited Riyadh and was called "Hijazi vomit".

[Farooha]

Binty, Jeddah '3air :P 'nuff said!

I add my voice to yours. I love al Hijaz and thank God everyday that King Abdul Aziz didn't stop at just Najd and the Eastern province, my God imagine how incomplete the country would seem. What would we do without our brethren from the west coast, ya waaad?

I also have to add, that the eclectic hijazi influence has made its way to Riyadh too! Official government bodies practically made their move from Jeddah to Riyadh a few decades back and with it came the fun and colorful Saudis and their fun and colorful influence. :-D Intermarriage is also on the rise, despite resistance from self-appointed "clan elders", which is also great.

lol re: Abu Sinan, you forgot the most popular one of all "left-over pilgrims."
But it goes both ways, as someone very dear to me, who also is Hijazi, says: "anything east of Madinah are Badu, shurooq, and sometimes even khadamiyah." (he had to explain the last two, and believe me when I say that though the literal meanings are benign, they have very very negative connotations)
Even the shiites?, I asked.
"Are they East of Madinah?"
"umm, yeah"
"Then, they too"
LOL.

Aya, don't you just love us? (don't mind me I'm about to BURST, I've been preaching the "LETS LOVE OUR DIVERSITY" es6wanah for weeks now. You can delete this if you like, really!)
Oh and one more thing, why aren't you ever on ya bitt?

[Aya]

ya okhti ya Farooha, I agree with you 100%. Our diversity makes us better, stronger and more tolerant. I am hoping that we embrace it more and show the true colors of our rainbow.

(And I will start logging in more often, very stressed out right now)

[ko12]

hi i agree

[ko12]

hi i agree

[Nasir]

As an expat I always preferred Jeddah for obvious reasons. I could visit Makkah Mukarrama and Madina Munawwara very often. Secondly, its the most cosmopolitan city of Saudi Arabia so more congenial to an expat. Thirdly, though it used to be hot in summers, the winters are benign - a sharp contrast with the winter of the north or the Eastern Region. Fourthly, I did come across some men of God who love the Rasool as he should be loved. Fifthly, I used to enjoy the Al-Baik chicken there and which I miss.