Jeddah, known as the 'Gateway to the Holy Cities,' serves as the primary entry point for millions of pilgrims traveling to Mecca and Medina for Hajj and Umrah. The city's historic Al-Balad district features traditional Hijazi architecture with coral stone buildings, wooden balconies, and ancient mosques dating back centuries. As a major commercial hub on the Red Sea, Jeddah has been a center of Islamic trade and culture, maintaining its significance as both a modern metropolis and a keeper of Islamic heritage.