Projects: Corniche, Jeddah

Jeddah is littered with family-friendly places but none are better known than the Corniche especially during Ramadan as a family get-together spot.

Throughout the year families congregate at the seaside road to spend time together, enjoy a sunset and to just spend a day out and about in the lively city that is Jeddah. With the dozens of international hotels dotting the landscape the diversity of people constantly changes and consequently so do the activities.

Regardless of the time of year people both young and old can be seen roaming the Corniche either taking a slow walk or dashing around on a scooter or bike.

However during Ramadan hundreds of families descend on the Corniche to enjoy their iftar as they wait for the cool colors of the sunset to fade away.

Young men can take in a spot of fishing during the day on one of the finger-like pavilions stretching out into the sea beyond the Corniche sidewalks. While at night four-wheel motorbikes zip from end to end intertwining with pony riders. These tiny stallions are as much a landmark of the Corniche as the assorted collections of art with their brightly handmade Hijazi inspired colored saddles recognizable from miles away.

Whereas others choose to simply enjoy the cooler weather in the winter months and perhaps enjoy an ice cream from a local vendor while watching the waves crash on the large black rocks.

The Corniche is a true cross section of what Jeddah really is, outside of its famed malls and coffee shops.

Jeddah is unique in being able to have a Corniche filled with art by famous artists both from abroad and from the Gulf as well as sporting the highest fountain in the world which is famed as being several meters higher than the famous Geneva famous fountain.