Posted on November 7, 2025
At World Travel Market London 2025, the historic city of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia made an impression, showcasing its transformation into a leading cultural destination. The city has not only highlighted its rich heritage and ongoing revitalization efforts, but has also secured important global partnerships aimed at boosting its tourism growth. These collaborations reflect the goals of Saudi Arabia’s broader Vision 2030, which focuses on preserving cultural landmarks while positioning the Kingdom as a premier international destination for travelers seeking authentic and immersive experiences. The event underscored the growing importance of the historic city of Jeddah in global tourism, offering visitors a mix of ancient charm and modern innovation.
The Historic Jeddah Pavilion has been a prominent feature in the global travel market, distinguishing itself from other international destinations with its immersive exhibitions and digital experiences. Journalists and tourism professionals from around the world interacted with pavilion representatives, gaining insight into the large-scale rehabilitation projects in the region. These projects aim to preserve Jeddah’s unique heritage while at the same time transforming the region into a thriving cultural and tourism centre. This is in line with the broader goals of Saudi Vision 2030, which seeks to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s position as a global leader in tourism and culture.
One of the most prominent events of Jeddah’s historic participation in the World Travel Market was the signing of four important memorandums of understanding with national organizations aimed at developing the region’s tourism and cultural offerings. The first memorandum of understanding signed with Discover Saudi Arabia focuses on developing integrated tourism programs that highlight the depth of the cultural history of the historic city of Jeddah. This partnership will provide immersive experiences for global visitors, positioning the historic city of Jeddah as an essential gateway for cultural tourism in Saudi Arabia.
Another agreement with the Saudi Tourist Guides Association focuses on enhancing the qualifications of local tour guides. By offering vocational training and skills development, this partnership aims to improve visitor engagement and ensure that tourists have the best possible experience as they explore the historic area. Through this initiative, Historic Jeddah will provide a higher level of service, enhancing its reputation as a first-class destination for heritage tourism.
In addition, a third Memorandum of Understanding was signed with Deira Tourism Company, focusing on expanding the region’s tourism offerings by creating new routes and experiences. This collaboration will diversify the tourism landscape in historic Jeddah, ensuring that visitors can enjoy a variety of activities that cater to different interests, from history and culture to modern entertainment experiences. The introduction of these new routes will help strengthen the region’s position as a major attraction for domestic and international travellers.
The fourth agreement with “Siyaha” Company aims to create specialized content and tourism experiences that celebrate the unique cultural identity of the historic city of Jeddah. This partnership will focus on providing deeper insights into the region’s architectural heritage, local traditions, and historical significance, allowing visitors to more meaningfully connect with Saudi Arabia’s cultural heritage.
The pavilion at the World Travel Market also displayed a variety of tourism products and interactive features that highlight the cultural and historical value of the historic city of Jeddah. One of the highlights was the guided heritage tours, which allowed visitors to explore famous landmarks such as the region’s traditional Hijaz architecture, coral stone buildings, wooden rawashins, and mosques dating back centuries. In addition, the digital display of archaeological finds can be accessed through QR codes, providing a modern twist to the historical experience. Special displays were also shown of TeamLab Borderless Museum, an innovative cultural venue, combining cutting-edge technology and cultural exploration.
Historic Jeddah also highlighted its digital presence through Google Arts and Culture, offering virtual tours of the region. This initiative allows global audiences to experience the region’s rich heritage and historical narratives from anywhere in the world, making it easier for people to engage with the region’s unique cultural offerings. By combining traditional heritage with digital innovations, Historic Jeddah is making its cultural treasures more accessible and attracting a global audience.
This focus on global exposure is part of Saudi Arabia’s larger strategy to enhance its cultural assets in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030. The initiative aims to preserve the Kingdom’s architectural heritage while enhancing its economic potential through tourism. Jeddah’s historic participation in the global travel market embodies this vision by positioning the region as a major destination for cultural tourism in the region.
Located in the heart of Jeddah, Historic Jeddah is one of the oldest urban settlements on the Red Sea coast. Historically, it was a center for pilgrims, merchants and travelers from all over the Islamic world. Its distinctive Hijazi architectural style, which includes ornate wooden windows (rawashin), coral stone structures, and traditional souks, led to its inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2014.
To continue to preserve and enhance the importance of the region, the Saudi Ministry of Culture launched the Jeddah Historic District Program in 2018. This program focused on restoring historic buildings, revitalizing public spaces, and promoting cultural activities that engage local residents and visitors alike. As part of these efforts, Historic Jeddah has become a more vibrant and accessible tourist destination, offering a balance between traditional heritage and modern amenities.
At World Travel Market London 2025, the historic city of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia showcased its transformation into a leading cultural destination while securing key global partnerships to drive tourism growth, in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
In addition to preserving the area’s physical and cultural assets, the destination management team ensures visitors have a seamless experience, with services including guided tours, a unified call center and digital tools that enhance the tourism experience. With the implementation of these initiatives, Historic Jeddah is on its way to becoming one of the most important cultural and tourism destinations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which contributes to achieving the Kingdom’s broader goals of sustainable development and cultural promotion.
