NASSIF HOUSE MUSEUM

A symbol of Jeddah’s rich past, the Nassif House Museum was built in 1880 and is one of Balad’s most majestic ancient mansions. The 106-room and 7-storey house served as a residence for King Abdulaziz ibn Saud, the founder of modern-day Saudi Arabia. The house became a library in 1975, but it's 16,000 books are now preserved at King Abdulaziz University.

Dating back to the late 1800s, the Nassif House Museum is one of the top Places to visit in Jeddah. Built for the then-governor of Jeddah, Sheikh Omar Effendi Nassif, this museum has been the site of many historical and significant events in history.

It has also served as the temporary royal residence of King Abdul-Aziz in 1925, who was the founder of the modern kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Located in Al Balad, the mansion-turned-museum is a major cultural centre in the city. Boasting 106 rooms, the museum offers visitors an insight into the rich past of the region, and has many vintage photographs, and other exhibits that you can see.

Highlights

• It's a museum and cultural center with special exhibits and historian-led lectures.
• Known as The Tree House, it was the only one in Balad with a tree. Its neem tree is nearly as old as the house.
• Built for Sheikh Omar Effendi Nassif, the governor of Jeddah, it was later converted into a private library with 16,000 books. The Abdul Aziz University Library now has these books.
• Featuring Ottoman Turkish design, Arabic calligraphy, and carved wooden doors, this building is the center of attraction for its distinct architecture and ancient appeal.
• Its ramp stairway features spaced crossbeams, making it convenient for both people and animals to walk on.