Perched on the shores of the Red Sea, Jeddah is not only the commercial centre of Saudi Arabia, it's a rapidly growing tourist destination too. The port city is known as the gateway to Mecca due to the proximity to the holy city. while Jeddah itself is a bustling place with top-class hotels, restaurants and attractions. The historic old town area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the city has an astounding history dating back to 552BC. There are lots of souks and markets around the city, as well as museums and malls. Water sports. Particularly diving, are very popular here too, as you'd expect with its superb position on the Red Sea.