Jeddah, the host city for Opec's emergency talks, is the commercial capital of Saudi Arabia. It is also a key regional centre: the capital cities of North Africa and the Middle East are all within two hours' flying distance.

Jeddah's proximity to the holiest sites in Islam - Mecca is 70 kilometres inland, and Medina lies to the north - has helped its growth as a commercial centre. One million pilgrims pass through Jeddah during the annual Hajj to Mecca. The city's airport, King Abdul Aziz International, is one of the busiest in the world, and includes a Hajj terminal which can accommodate 80,000 pilgrims.

The navigable gap in the Red Sea reef that enabled pilgrims to travel to Mecca by sea became a trading post for rices, spices, silks, precious metals and perfumes. It is one of the oldest seaports on the Red Sea; its importance grew still further after the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 enabled ships to access the city from the north and south.

Old and new worlds coexist in Jeddah: traditional souks, popular with tourists, sit in the shadows of new shopping malls. Tahlia Street is home to Prada, Gucci and Giorgio Armani stores, and King Abdullah Street hosts offices of many of the region's biggest companies. A central business district is also planned for Jeddah: it would be one of the largest in the world.

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