King Fahd's Fountain shoots a column of seawater 312 metres into the air above the Red Sea — higher than most of the city's towers. It is the tallest fountain in the world, and in the evening, lit by hundreds of spotlights, it is the symbol of Jeddah.

The world's tallest fountain

The fountain was a gift to the city from King Fahd. It was built between 1980 and 1983, inspired by the famous Jet d'Eau in Geneva, and reached its full height when it began operating in its current form in 1985. Guinness World Records lists it as the tallest fountain on earth.

It uses salt water pumped straight from the Red Sea. The jet leaves the nozzle at around 375 km/h, and at any moment more than 16 tonnes of water are in the air. Its base is shaped like a mabkhara, the traditional Arabian incense burner.

At night

After dark more than 500 LED spotlights light the jet, and it can be seen from much of the city. This is when Jeddah comes out to the waterfront.

The Corniche

The Corniche runs for kilometres along the shore, with walking and cycling paths, open-air sculptures, beaches, playgrounds and cafes. Families gather here on weekend evenings, and it is one of the best places in the city to watch the sunset over the sea.

Tips for your visit

• Best time — sunset into the evening, when the jet is lit and the heat has gone.
• Weekends — the Corniche is busiest on Thursday and Friday evenings.
• Historic Jeddah — Al-Balad is about 5 km away.
• Cooler months — November to March are the most comfortable for walking the seafront.