Shrouded in mystery — the history of Jeddah’s non-Muslim cemetery

The graveyard is located close to one of the city’s busiest streets, yet most people passing by are unaware that behind the high walls lie the final resting places of many people of other faiths. (Supplied)
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Updated 14 November 2020
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Shrouded in mystery — the history of Jeddah’s non-Muslim cemetery

  • Some believe the graveyard, which was attacked this week, dates back to the 16th century and is the final resting place of thousands of foreigners

JEDDAH: The peace and serenity of Jeddah’s non-Muslim cemetery was shattered on Wednesday by the sound of an explosion, as it came under attack for what is thought to be the first time in its history.

The graveyard is located close to one of the city’s busiest streets, just south of its downtown area, yet most people passing by are unaware that behind the high walls lie the final resting places of many Christians and people of other faiths. There are about 300 marked graves in the cemetery but some historians believe thousands of people have been buried there over the years.

Hushed secrets and rumors have circulated for years about the cemetery and its origins but no one really knows for sure when burials began there. At some point the location became known locally as “Khawajat,” an Arab term for foreigners.

Some researchers and historians suggest the cemetery dates back to about 200 years ago. Jeddah was under Ottoman rule at the time and many foreign merchants passed through the city, which was a thriving trade center and a gateway to the Arabian Peninsula.

Others believe its origin lies even further back, in the 16th century, and specifically a battle for control of the city in 1517 between the Portuguese Empire, led by Lopo Soares de Albergaria, and the Mamluk governor of the city, Amir Husain Al-Kurdi.
 

Some historians believe the Portuguese surrounded the city for three months, others say the siege continued for as many as 13. There were casualties on both sides and it is thought that fallen Portuguese soldiers were buried outside of the city limits. Residents of the area later took it upon themselves to preserve the area as a burial ground for non-Muslims.

Jeddah has for centuries welcomed visitors of many nationalities and faiths, some of whom were just passing through while others decided to settle in the city. Historically, it would have been difficult and expensive to transport the bodies of foreigners who died there back to their home countries, so for many it became their final resting place.

For years, the consulates of nations such as the UK, the US, France, Germany and Ethiopia have maintained the cemetery and its graves, and provided the funds to pay for a groundskeeper.

For more than 18 years that has been Younis, an African Muslim who, among other things, polishes the graves, removes decaying floral displays and prunes the trees that provide shade for visitors.

“Many find the cemetery to be a strange place for reasons only known to them,” he said. “It’s just like every cemetery. There are people buried here that go back 50 to 60 years and more.

“Many people pass through and pay their respects to the buried, and pray according to their cultures and traditions. Some light candles, while others cover the grave with rice — but it’s a place for non-Muslims here to pay their respects.”

An official at the Ethiopian consulate told MBC that it costs SR 2,500 ($600) to bury an adult in the cemetery and SR 1,500 for a plot for a child. Historians say it contains are graves of Second World War soldiers in the cemetery, along with those of captains, consul generals and children. There are people of many faiths, including Hindus, Buddhists and Christians.

The attack on Wednesday, described as “cowardly and failed,” is thought to be the first targeting the cemetery. Residents who live close to it and know what it is understand it is a sacred site and respect its sanctity and the dead buried there, as if they were their own.

“The cemetery was once located outside the city of Jeddah — urbanization did not reach it until a few decades ago,” said 80-year-old Ameen Al-Sabein, who lives in the Ash Shati district. “Those who know historic Jeddah know that the cemetery was originally located outside its walls.”

He added that the burial ground was also known as “the Christian Cemetery” and until now has been undisturbed and respected.

“It has a fence surrounding it and no one from outside the countries that run it is allowed to enter,” he said. “Urbanization extended to it and placed it in the heart of the city of Jeddah but it has always been left alone.”

An investigation is under way into the attack, which happened while foreign residents and dignitaries, including the French consul general, were holding a Remembrance Day ceremony to mark the 102nd anniversary of the end of the First World War. An employee of the Greek consulate and a Saudi security guard were injured in the blast.
 


Grand Mosque in Makkah furnished with 33,000 Saudi-made luxury carpets for Ramadan

Updated 18 March 2025
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Grand Mosque in Makkah furnished with 33,000 Saudi-made luxury carpets for Ramadan

  • High-quality carpets are known for their durability and designed to handle heavy foot traffic 
  • Carpets are used on Fridays and during the month of Ramadan

MAKKAH: Saudi authorities have furnished the Grand Mosque in Makkah with thousands of luxury carpets during the holy month of Ramadan.

The General Authority for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque said that the 33,000 luxury carpets were made in Saudi Arabia, and known for their high quality, exquisite craftsmanship, and durability.

The carpets, each measuring 1.2 meters by 4 meters or 1.2 meters by 3 meters, are used on Fridays, during the month of Ramadan, and in other peak seasons, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Carpets are 1.6 cm thick and able to cope with heavy foot traffic, the SPA added.

One of the authority’s missions is to provide services and attend to the needs of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims and visitors to the Two Holy Mosques in Makkah and Madinah.

The authority announced this week that it provided almost 11 million iftar meals to Umrah pilgrims and other worshippers at the Two Holy Mosques in Makkah and Madinah during the first half of Ramadan, a time of worship for Muslims who fast from sunrise to sunset.


Riyadh Municipality to host cultural tent event

Riyadh Municipality will host a cultural tent event with family-friendly activities on Tuesday and Wednesday in Tahlia Oasis.
Updated 18 March 2025
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Riyadh Municipality to host cultural tent event

  • Cultural tent celebrates the diversity of the cultural and artistic scene in the Kingdom, allowing visitors to interact with literature, arts and heritage

RIYADH: Riyadh Municipality will host a cultural tent event with family-friendly activities on Tuesday and Wednesday in Tahlia Oasis, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The event will include activities for families, including a children’s face-painting corner, and attendees will be able to join PlayStation League competitions that offer challenges suitable for different age groups.

Live cooking shows will allow visitors to learn about the diversity of Saudi cuisine, and local entrepreneurs will be given the opportunity to display their products in local stores.

Additionally, the cultural tent will exhibit books, pictures and manuscripts about Riyadh’s heritage.

The cultural tent celebrates the diversity of the cultural and artistic scene in the Kingdom, allowing visitors to interact with literature, arts and heritage.

The event is part of efforts by Riyadh Municipality to improve quality of life for residents in the Saudi capital, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

Everyone is welcome to attend the events, which run from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.


Saudi Arabia condemns Israeli strikes on Gaza

Palestinians react at the site of an Israeli strike on a residential building in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip March 18, 25
Updated 18 March 2025
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Saudi Arabia condemns Israeli strikes on Gaza

  • Kingdom stressed the importance of an immediate halt to Israeli killing, violence, and destruction, and the protection of Palestinian civilians

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Tuesday condemned and denounced renewed violence in Gaza after Israel unleashed its most intense strikes overnight since a ceasefire was established two months ago.

The health ministry in Gaza said more than 400 people were killed after the strikes that took place during the fasting month of Ramadan.

The Kingdom stressed the importance of an immediate halt to Israeli killing, violence, and destruction, and the protection of Palestinian civilians.

Saudi Arabia also said it was important that the international community fulfilled its responsibilities by intervening immediately to put an end to Israeli crimes and stop the severe humanitarian suffering endured by the Palestinian people.

Gaza’s health ministry said the bodies of 413 people had been received by the territory’s hospitals, adding “a number of victims are still under the rubble.”


Saudi cabinet urges immediate international action to end Gaza humanitarian crisis

Updated 18 March 2025
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Saudi cabinet urges immediate international action to end Gaza humanitarian crisis

  • This cabinet also strong condemned the resumption of Israeli occupation forces' attacks on the Gaza

The Saudi Council of Ministers on Tuesday, chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, emphasized the urgent need for the international community to take immediate action to halt these atrocities and put an end to the humanitarian suffering of the Palestinian people.

This came following the strong condemnation of the resumption of Israeli occupation forces' attacks on the Gaza Strip.

The cabinet continued to follow up on developments in the Arab, regional, and international arenas, reiterating the Kingdom’s firm positions on these matters and affirming its ongoing support for efforts aimed at achieving security and stability in the region and globally.

During the session, the crown prince briefed the cabinet on the contents of two phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.


Saudi-Chinese team discovers ancient treasures at Al-Sirrain

Saudi Arabia’s Heritage Commission has completed the third season of the archaeological excavation at the Al-Sirrain site.
Updated 18 March 2025
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Saudi-Chinese team discovers ancient treasures at Al-Sirrain

  • Excavation uncovers artifacts, city layout from historic port city on Maritime Silk Road

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Heritage Commission has completed the third season of the archaeological excavation at the Al-Sirrain site in Al-Lith governorate, Makkah region.

The project was carried out in collaboration with China’s National Cultural Heritage Administration as part of a bilateral agreement to exchange expertise in archaeological excavation, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

It coincides with the Saudi-Chinese Cultural Year 2025, which features joint cultural initiatives. The goal is to strengthen cultural exchange and highlight historical ties between the two civilizations through the Silk Road.

The collaboration reflects Saudi Arabia and China’s commitment to supporting historical research and documenting shared heritage, the SPA reported.

The excavation aimed to provide a deeper understanding of the site by studying residential areas, city planning and connections to other urban centers. It also sought to document structural features, including parts of the city wall, towers and gates.

Researchers uncovered various artifacts, including pottery, stone vessels, decorative items, a gold dinar from the mid-second Hijri century and Chinese porcelain. Gravestones with unique carvings were also found.

The survey identified key architectural features, including wall foundations and gravestones, highlighting the site’s significance along the Maritime Silk Road.

The port city thrived until the late third Hijri century, reaching its peak in the fifth and sixth Hijri centuries. It remains one of the largest archaeological sites on the Red Sea coast, according to the SPA.

The Heritage Commission is committed to preserving antiquities and advancing archaeological research across the Kingdom, the SPA added.

It also aims to expand cooperation with local and international partners in line with Vision 2030, promoting culture and ensuring the sustainability of heritage for future generations.