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Shopping is great in Jeddah because all places are open till late. The shopping hours are from 10.00am to 12.30pm and then 4.30pm to 11.30pm. Most supermarkets are open 24 hours 7 days a week. However, on fridays some shops are closed half day and open at around 4.30pm. All shops close for prayer five times a day for up to 20 minutes, so planning your shopping trip ahead is very essential!
Shopping in Jeddah is a fun experience because it mirrors the fact that the city is such a place of wonderful contrasts. While Jeddah may not as readily spring to mind as readily as Paris or New York, but it can be a shopper's paradise. Jeddah has in recent years become one of the main shopping centers in the Middle East hosting everything from traditional goods to international goods.
| There are many large traditonal souks (markets) all around Jeddah. They sell incense and incense burner's, hubbly bubblies (water pipes) and sweet smelling, fruit flavoured tobacco, jewellery, bronze and brassware, inticately carved daggers and swords and wooden furniture and truncks, delicately inlaid with brass. Bargaining is still in use but these days getting to the seller's 'last price' is quicker than it used to be. There is also a gold souk that one must see even if not intending to buy. Gold is sold by weight and a small charge is added for workmanship. |
 Traditional Jewellery |
 Heraa Mall |
Alongside traditional souqs, you will find modern malls dotted all over the city. Heraa International mall is one of the most popular malls in Jeddah. It is well known for international brands and local names. In the middle of the mall you will find a family entertainment area with eating areas where you can buy snacks and drinks. Also the mall is mixed with other eating places like MacDonalds, Fuddruckers and other main coffee shops. Another popular mall is Oasis. It has a beautiful exterior of blue mosaic tiles and swatches of glass. When entering the mall, one is greeted and welcomed by the sounds of the rainforest! You can hear water falling and birds chirping and chattering about. |
| In the centre of the mall, a river runs and it has some waterfalls. Landmarks in Jeddah are often trying to be the world's first and this mall made it. The floor comprises of the world's largest mosaic - a carpet of literally millions of coloured tiles, all joined together and each is no bigger than one square inch. It has many international shops like Guess, JC Penny, Quicksilver, DKNY, Benetton, Kookai, Espirit just to mention a few. |
 Oasis Mall |
Some streets in Jeddah are more or less like open air shopping malls. Tahlia Street aspires everybody with all the major designer labels such as Joseph, DKNY, Calvin Klein, Armani, Versace, Kookai and Espirit just to mention a few are all availble at the western end of the street, in Jeddah mall, Al Khayyat centre and Al Bassatten. Other chain store brands are centrally located. These includes NEXT, BHS, Marks and Spencer's, Debenhams, Mothercare, Adams, Miss Slefridge, Zara, Promod, Mango, Etam, and many more. Also you will find a Jewellery Centre which has a large collection of individual shops including Tiffany and Cartier. Jeddah's only branch of Polo Ralph in found in this street. This shopping street is mixed with all the fast food restaurants like MacDonals, Domino's pizza, Barnies, Starbucks, Popeyes, KFC and Hardees. Also the largest Pizza Hut branch in the world is found on this street.
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