A local race car driver's guide to a weekend in Jeddah

Racing driver Reema Juffali reveals how to spend a memorable weekend – during the F1 Grand Prix or beyond – in her hometown, from relaxing on the Corniche to finding the best eats.

For a port city, Jeddah has a surprisingly laid-back feel – something Saudi Arabia's first-ever female racing driver, Reema Juffali, attributes to the influence of the ocean.

"The beach and ocean play a huge part in Jeddah's psyche," said Juffali, who was born and raised in the metropolis – the gateway to Mecca for hundreds of thousands of pilgrims each year. "We have a huge coastline and incredible marine life here which means being in the sea, swimming, fishing and diving. They're all part of daily life and that slows down the pace a lot."

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Reema Juffali has competed in over 100 races becoming the first Saudi woman to win an international motor race in 2019. She founded her team, Theeba Motorsport, with the aim of making race car driving more accessible to Saudi Arabians and was listed as one of BBC's 100 Women in 2022. Reema is racing for the F1 Academy – Formula One's female-only single seater championship – in Jeddah in March 2024 as part of the Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix event.

A true trailblazer in a highly male-dominated environment, Juffali smashed boundaries when she became the first Saudi female race car driver, yet these days gender doesn't feature so much on her radar. "I don't think of it as guys and girls," she said. "I just want to race and beat the person in front of me."

Making her racing debut in 2018, just a few months after Saudi Arabia's ban on female drivers was lifted, Juffali remembers how "heads would turn, people would stare" when she removed her helmet after a race, but now she just wants to let her racing do the talking, hoping to inspire more Saudi Arabian women to get into the driving seat. And as supporters go, her hometown and its residents champion the racer wherever she goes ensuring the city lives up to its namesake. "Jeddah is derived from jaddah which means 'grandmother' in Arabic," said Juffali, when we asked her how to spend a weekend in this beautiful city. "Like a grandmother, the city welcomes everyone. It's a hospitable, unique, homely, very welcoming place full of many cultural influences. Everyone should visit, at least once." 

Here are Reema Juffali's top six picks for planning a memorable stay in her hometown of Jeddah.

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1. Best way to soak up the atmosphere: The Jeddah Corniche

To get the best understanding of the city and an immersion into local life, Juffali recommends strolling or picnicking on the idyllic 30km stretch of coastline known as the Jeddah Corniche on the Red Sea – also home to the F1 Jeddah Corniche Circuit. The area close to the race circuit in particular is "full of energy and has a certain buzz to it", said Juffali. "It's the best area to be when the F1 is on even if you don't have a ticket."

The Corniche is also home to a beautiful coastline and expansive leafy parks, so Juffali likes having picnics with friends and family by the ocean as the sun sets over the Red Sea.

For beach days and swimming, she recommends heading over to OIA Beach Resort for total relaxation. Juffali said that growing up, she spent a lot of time on the beach, in the water – "even on the ocean fishing with family" – so much so that it became an essential part of her daily life. She noted that the area is "incredibly rich for sea-life" and that "it's a great place to snorkel." 

Website: https://www.oiabeach.com/

Address: 2688 Prince Abdullah AlFiasal St, حي اللؤلؤ، 8984، Jeddah 23821, Saudi Arabia

Phone: +966 12 213 3336

Instagram: @oiabeach

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2. Best cultural experience: Jeddah Old Town

When she's not chilling on the Corniche, Juffali likes to take in the beauty of the city's architecture in Jeddah Old Town (Al-Balad). "The architecture of Nassif House Museum with its Ottoman-style design is absolutely mesmerising," said the racer of the standout building that dates back to the late 1800s.

Designed by a Turkish architect, the former residence of 19th-Century Jeddah city governor, Sheikh Omar Effendi Nassif, features a clever underfloor cooling device whereby rainwater is collected and stored in cisterns lowering the temperature of the lower levels of the house – an important addition in a city where temperatures rarely dip below 20C. As well as showcasing ancient Arabic calligraphy and rare paintings, the museum also houses over 16,000 books that belong to the library of King Abdulaziz University. Juffali recommends visitors to the city add Nassif House to their itineraries since it's a "beautiful place where you can walk around and get a better understanding of the ancient and fascinating history of Jeddah."

On the other end of the spectrum, Juffali said that the work of some of Saudi Arabia's great artists can be found in Hayy Jameel, describing the arts complex as, "a kind of modern art space where you can catch a movie, join a workshop or stroll around an exhibition." As a bonus, entry to the space is free for all. 

Website: https://hayyjameel.org/

Address: Arwa bint Abdulmutalib Street, Al Muhammadiyah District, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Phone: +966 12 228 3430

Instagram:@hayyjameel

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3. Best neighbourhood to stay in: As Salamah and Ash Shati

Abounding with stylish eateries and boutique hotels that fuse traditional Arabic design with avant-garde quirks, Juffali considers the suburbs of As Salamah and Ash Shati the best places to stay when visiting Jeddah. Both areas are "well connected, offering easy access to everything that makes this city so unique," said Juffali. "[And they're] overflowing with traditional restaurants and cafes." Juffali particularly enjoys hanging out at the Shirvan Hotel City Yard – "a kind of lifestyle hub that utilises Saudi Arabian heritage and design, but in a cool modern way" – and Shada Hotel, which according to Ruffali, has "such a fun vibe with lots of colourful art, quirky brushed concrete walls, parquet flooring and a roof-top swimming pool".

The family-run Shada Hotel is a big supporter of South Saudi heritage, showcasing it in all its glory by selling locally made homewares and trinkets in its on-site store, making it well worth swinging by, even without a room reservation.

Website: https://shadahotels.com/alshatea-jeddah/

Address: Ash Shati, Jeddah Saudi Arabia

Phone: +966 55 4480 779

Instagram: @shadahotel

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4. Best places to enjoy Jeddah's cuisine: Al Nakheel and Twina Park

As well as cars, Juffali is passionate about eating. "Food is such a huge part of our culture," she said. "And since we have so many influences from our neighbouring countries, Saudi Arabian cuisine is kind of a delicious melting pot. The food scene is unique because the city is so multicultural, and the hospitality is incredible. It's like nowhere else." 

For local delicacies, Juffali adores Saudi dates (Bateel is her preferred brand), and cardamom-infused Saudi coffee – so much that they're the only items she insists on taking with her whenever she's travelling.

And for eating out, Juffali recommends Al Nakheel – a family-style restaurant on the Jeddah Corniche, which serves spicy food from the Hijazi region in a lush palm garden – her top picks being the grilled lamb chops or "any of the kebab dishes". Alternatively, Juffali heads to Twina Park, a tony yet traditional restaurant that specialises in locally-sourced, fresh seafood, where she orders the fried fish served with shrimp and red rice.

On days when she just wants a quick, but satisfying meal, Juffali suggests AlBaik, the hugely popular Saudi fast-food chain. It serves "the tastiest fried chicken served in a foil tray", said Juffali. "It's so popular that "people wait around 20 to 30 minutes for it." And for a quick street-side snack, the famed Saudi dish, balila, consists of boiled chickpeas served warm with various spices and herbs and is almost always topped with pickles. It's one of Juffali's favourite on-the-go bites for when she's strolling through Jeddah. "I don't have a go-to stall," she said, "But would recommend picking the one that looks the busiest."

Address: Al Kurnaysh Br Rd, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Phone: +966 50 7884 242

Instagram: @alnakheel_ksa

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5. Best outdoor experience: Underwater diving at Sol Beach

"Not many people realise, but Jeddah has a huge underwater diving scene," said Juffali. "A lot of people come here to get their open water dive certifications." Since the city faces a stunning expanse of water, dotted with untouched, pristine reefs, the ocean houses a delightful myriad of unique marine life, from the rare Black Marlin, and bright almost vertical coral gardens, to lionfish and even sharks.

"There's so much to see in the water, so much beauty," said Juffali. "I'd recommend heading to Sol Beach. It's a good jumping-off point to explore the ocean and its array of enchanting nature."

Website: https://www.divessi.com/de/mydiveguide/divesite/127020

Address: 6998 Prince Abdullah AlFiasal St, Abhur Ash Shamaliyah District, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Instagram: @ssi_international

Homegrown Market

6. Best place to go shopping: Homegrown Market

While Juffali herself isn't a huge fan of shopping, there is one spot she likes to peruse on account of the store's affinity with Saudi Arabian and Middle Eastern designers. "Everyone should visit Homegrown Market," she said. "It's such a cool space filled with really exciting items. It really champions our heritage and culture."

What started as a fairly small venture – launching with just 12 brands – has mushroomed into a creative community and now promotes and sells wares from over 150 designers. From intriguing clothing and bold accessories to hand-painted ceramics and stunning hand-crafted jewellery, a visit to Homegrown guarantees travellers can return home with a sacred memento to remind them of their time spent in Jeddah.

Website: https://www.homegrownmkt.com/

Address: Homegrown Market, 3707 Prince Said Al Faisal, Al-Suhaifah, Jeddah 23432, Saudi Arabia

Phone: +966 54 199 2635

Instagram: @homegrown_market

BBC Travel's The SpeciaList is a series of guides to popular and emerging destinations around the world, as seen through the eyes of local experts and tastemakers.

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