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)
Short Url
Updated 14 November 2020
Follow

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.
 


Saudi royal reserve launches eco campaigns

Updated 8 sec ago
Follow

Saudi royal reserve launches eco campaigns

  • The authority has warned of the cumulative impact of harmful practices, stressing that actions like lighting fires in open areas or dumping waste severely damage soil and vegetation and weaken the ecosystem’s ability to regenerate and stay balanced

RIYADH: The Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve Development Authority has stepped up efforts to combat environmental challenges through campaigns aimed at reducing harmful behaviors and raising awareness about pollution, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The authority has warned of the cumulative impact of harmful practices, stressing that actions like lighting fires in open areas or dumping waste severely damage soil and vegetation and weaken the ecosystem’s ability to regenerate and stay balanced.

Pollution begins in the soil, it explained, where chemicals and solid pollutants affect its biological properties and disrupt its role in supporting plant life. The damage extends to groundwater and worsens as pollutants reach the air, releasing toxic gases from burning or decomposing waste.

The authority said environmental protection depended on compliance with regulations, adding that cooperation between individuals and relevant entities was key to minimizing damage and ensuring ecosystem stability across the Kingdom.

Covering 91,500 sq. km, the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve is the second-largest royal reserve, home to 138 wildlife species and 179 plant species. It is known for its rich ecology, stunning landscapes and heritage sites.
 


Sales initiative for cottage industry families in Jeddah

Updated 10 min 11 sec ago
Follow

Sales initiative for cottage industry families in Jeddah

  • The initiative provides equipped booths as outlets to showcase products, a major step toward self-sufficiency and establishing a sustainable source of income, the Saudi Press Agency reported

JEDDAH: Monteja, a charitable society for families working in the cottage industry in the Makkah region, has launched the Sales Outlets initiative to support producer families in Historic Jeddah.

The initiative provides equipped booths as outlets to showcase products, a major step toward self-sufficiency and establishing a sustainable source of income, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Essam Al-Basrawi, the society’s chairman, said that the first phase of the initiative includes 20 families, with future expansion phases planned to increase the number of outlets and locations within Jeddah governorate.

Maram Hameed Al-Deen, the society’s executive director, praised the support provided by the Ministry of Culture and the Historic Jeddah District Program, which enabled the launch of the initiative.

She added that Monteja aims to reach a larger segment of its registered members, totaling more than 7,000 families working in the cottage industry in Jeddah.
 


Saudi foreign minister and Palestinian prime minister discuss efforts to end war in Gaza

Updated 30 July 2025
Follow

Saudi foreign minister and Palestinian prime minister discuss efforts to end war in Gaza

  • They meet at UN HQ in New York during international conference on a 2-state solution to the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France
  • PM Mohammed Mustafa commends the Kingdom for its consistent stance on the Palestinian issue, says conference was the result of Saudi diplomacy

LONDON: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa held talks on Tuesday on coordination of diplomatic efforts to end Israel’s war in Gaza, and address the resultant starvation that is affecting nearly 2 million Palestinians in the territory.

They met at the UN’s headquarters in New York on the closing day of a two-day, high-level international conference on a two-state solution to the decades-long conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.

Mustafa commended the Kingdom for its consistent stance on the Palestinian issue, and its ongoing efforts to address the issue through the Arab Contact Group and the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, the Wafa News Agency reported.

The conference in New York was co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France in an effort to gather support for the formal establishment of an internationally recognized Palestinian state, and advance efforts to achieve a two-state solution in which Israel and Palestine can live in peace, side by side.

On Tuesday, the UK government said it would officially recognize a Palestinian state during the UN General Assembly in September, unless Israel takes action to end the war in Gaza and halts its annexation policies in the West Bank. This followed a recent pledge by President Emmanuel Macron that France will recognize Palestinian statehood during the General Assembly.

Mustafa said that this week’s UN conference was the result of Saudi diplomacy, with the aim of achieving a peaceful settlement of the Palestinian issue. He stressed the need to take concrete steps, and establish a clear timeline, toward the implementation of a two-state solution.


Saudi FM meets with Iraqi, Portuguese counterparts on sidelines of Palestine conference at UN

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan meets separately with his Iraqi and Portuguese counterparts.
Updated 29 July 2025
Follow

Saudi FM meets with Iraqi, Portuguese counterparts on sidelines of Palestine conference at UN

RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan met with his Iraqi and Portuguese counterparts on the sidelines of the high level UN conference that Saudi Arabia co-chaired on Tuesday.

The ministers were in New York to attend the United Nations High-Level International Conference on “The Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution” which called for an immediate end to the war in Gaza.

It also set out a detailed international roadmap toward the implementation of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

During the separate meetings with Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein and Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel, Prince Faisal reviewed relations between the Kingdom and their respective countries, Saudi Press Agency reported.

The latest developments in the region and efforts being made in this regard were also discussed.


Saudi artist spotlights Asir’s rich cultural landscape in her artwork

Artist Arafat Al-Asimi said that she feels most at home with nature and traditional landscape drawings. (Supplied)
Updated 29 July 2025
Follow

Saudi artist spotlights Asir’s rich cultural landscape in her artwork

  • Arafat Al-Asimi overcame challenges to prove herself as a female artist

MAKKAH: Saudi Arabia’s lush Asir mountains inspired the artistic vision of Arafat Al-Asimi. 

Highlighting her early artistic endeavors, Al-Asimi said that she enjoys using pastel colors to paint natural and heritage landscapes. The mountains, valleys, the color gradations of the forests and the region’s unique climate shaped her artistic imagination. 

Arafat Al-Asimi uses pastel colors to paint landscapes inspired by her native Asir. (Supplied)

Al-Asimi said that she feels most at home with nature and traditional landscape drawings, particularly those inspired by Asir, as they convey her deep sense of belonging and offer her psychological comfort and balance. 

She also shared her passion for incorporating Arabic calligraphy into her work, describing how it beautifully merges visual aesthetics with cultural identity. 

HIGHLIGHTS

• Arafat Al-Asimi’s artwork is inspired by Asir region’s environment.

• She developed her artistic talent through practice and experimenting with different materials.

• She said that family support in the early stages has had a significant impact on boosting her self-confidence.

With a background in geography, Al-Asimi said that her passion for art extended far beyond her studies. 

Artist Arafat Al-Asimi said that she feels most at home with nature and traditional landscape drawings. (Supplied)

She continued to develop her talent through self-practice, experimenting with different materials, engaging in artistic community activities, and attending exhibitions that contributed in developing her talent and shaping her artistic identity from an early age. 

The absence of an art major at her university was not an obstacle, but rather the engine for self-development, allowing her to cultivate a distinctive artistic style despite the lack of formal academic training in the field.

Arafat Al-Asimi uses pastel colors to paint landscapes inspired by her native Asir. (Supplied)

Speaking on challenges she faced at the beginning of her artistic career, Al-Asimi told Arab News that the most prominent of these were the lack of art specialization in university education, the lack of community and artistic support in the early stages of her career, and the difficulty of obtaining appropriate materials and tools. 

She also highlighted the challenge of proving herself as a female artist in a conservative environment, a struggle that required her to double her efforts to prove herself. However, she was able to overcome these challenges through persistence and continuous practice. 

Artist Arafat Al-Asimi said that she feels most at home with nature and traditional landscape drawings. (Supplied)

Al-Asimi highlighted her participation in numerous exhibitions both within the Kingdom and internationally, describing these experiences as enriching. 

The events not only expanded her artistic vision, but also provided valuable opportunities for cultural exchange, enriching her portfolio with new horizons.

She said that family support in the early stages has had a significant impact on boosting her self-confidence. Community encouragement, even through simple attendance or interaction, is an important motivator for an artist to continue, she added. 

Societal awareness of the value of fine art has been growing in recent years, providing Saudi female artists with broader opportunities to express themselves and demonstrate their abilities, she said. 

Expressing her ambitions, Al-Asimi said that she seeks to expand her presence in Saudi Arabia and Gulf art scene, and take part in major upcoming exhibitions locally and internationally to showcase her experience, inspired by the Asir environment. 

She also hopes to hold a solo exhibition documenting her artistic development and conduct art workshops for young girls to support local talent.