Tourism and Entertainment / The Mud Houses in Thuwal: The Memory of Place Woven by Centuries on the Red Sea Coast

Thuwal, 28 Muharram 1448 AH corresponding to 13 July 2026 AD (SPA)

The old mud houses in the Thuwal center, north of Jeddah, with their brown walls and roofs supported by tamarisk and palm trunks, have woven an architectural epic that transcends time and space, remaining a silent witness to centuries of marine life. They carry in their details the memory of generations that lived to the rhythm of the waves, crafting from mud, stone, and wood an architectural heritage that embodies human authenticity and the ability to adapt to the environment and create beauty from its simplest resources. Along the alleys of the old town, these houses stand tall despite the cracks left by years on their walls, as if refusing to bow to time, preserving the features crafted by skilled builders' hands, remaining an open record telling the history of a village connected to the Red Sea, where fishing, trade, and navigation were a way of life. The components of these buildings reveal the genius of traditional architecture on the western coast of the Kingdom, where walls were built from rammed earth mixed with marine pebbles, while roofs rested on tree trunks and palm fronds, in a design combining simplicity and efficiency, providing natural insulation suitable for the coastal environment, reflecting a deep understanding of the climate before modern construction techniques. The mud houses in Thuwal reflect an important aspect of the urban identity of coastal communities in the Kingdom, where houses were not just buildings for residence but social spaces that embraced the details of daily life and formed part of the cultural and economic fabric of the village, at a time when Thuwal flourished as one of the coastal stations on the Red Sea. The old mud houses in Thuwal embody an authentic model of traditional coastal architecture, where mud walls harmonize with tree trunks and roofs made of palm fronds, in a scene that preserves the memory of an ancient maritime village and embodies humans' connection to their environment over centuries of history. The old mud houses in Thuwal still retain their historical and architectural value as a living witness to an important period in the region's history, and a cultural resource worthy of documentation and protection, contributing to enhancing cultural tourism and preserving urban heritage, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 aimed at preserving national identity and investing in historical sites. // End // 14:09 Mecca time 0075