Jeddah began as a modest port for pilgrim traffic and trade from Islamic times and is now one of the most important commercial centres of Saudi Arabia. From about one sq km in size, it has expanded to about 1000 times the original size. For the Muslims, Jeddah, known as the Hijaz, is the most important city of Saudi Arabia's western region. Jeddah is by far the most cosmopolitan city in the Kingdom. Thousands of pilgrims to Mecca travel to Jeddah seaport annually as the first step of their pilgrimage to Mecca and Madinah.

Jeddah came under nominal Turkish control in the 16th century, though local rulers still held a great deal of power and influence. The first foreign consuls arrived in Jeddah in the first half of the nineteenth century. King Abdul Aziz and his troops took control of the city in 1925 and afterwards, foreign representatives to his court lived in Jeddah rather than Riyadh. The embassies remained in Jeddah until the mid-1980s when they were all transferred to the Diplomatic Quarter in Riyadh. There are still a large number of foreign consulates in Jeddah and the city has retained its importance as the commercial capital of the nation, as well as the main port of entry for the millions of pilgrims who visit the Holy Cities each year.