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Open Daily · 6 AM – 10 PM · Jeddah Corniche

Jeddah's Home of the Freshest Red Sea Catch

سوق السمك المركزي — جدة

Since 1952, Central Fish Market has been where Jeddah buys its seafood — straight from Red Sea boats to the ice. Watch the daily haraj auction, pick your fish, and have it cleaned, filleted or grilled on the spot.

Our Story · قصتنا

Seven Decades on Jeddah's Waterfront

Jeddah's fish trade was formally organized in 1950, and by 1952 the city's fish market opened on the waterfront near the port and the historic Al-Balad district. Generations later, Central Fish Market is still where the city's chefs, families and restaurants come first thing for the day's Red Sea catch.

1950

Trade gets organized

Saudi regulations formalize fish trading to guarantee quality and fair dealing for buyers.

1952

The market opens

Jeddah's fish market is established on the waterfront, beside the commercial port and Al-Balad's traditional souqs.

Today

A modern seafood hub

Air-conditioned halls, refrigeration and modern facilities — with the same daily haraj auction tradition at its heart.

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Years serving Jeddah since 1952
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Google rating from real visitors
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Google reviews and counting
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Days open every single week
Red Sea Fish Guide · دليل الأسماك

What's on the Ice Today

The Red Sea delivers some of the world's finest table fish, and they land here daily. These are the stars of Jeddah's market — know them by name and by their Arabic names, the way locals ask for them.

Najil

الناجل

Coral trout — the Red Sea's prized catch

Firm, sweet white flesh under a striking red skin dotted with blue. The fish Jeddah families ask for first — superb grilled or fried whole.

Local favourite

Hamour

الهامور

Grouper — the Gulf & Red Sea classic

Thick, meaty fillets that hold together in any dish. The go-to fish for grilling, sayadieh rice and restaurant kitchens across the city.

Best for grilling

Shaour

الشعور

Emperor fish — delicate & versatile

Clean-tasting white flesh with a fine flake. A haraj regular that shines fried, baked or in a rich Saudi fish curry.

Auction regular

Harid

الحريد

Parrotfish — the reef's painter

Unmistakable turquoise-and-violet skin and a mild, tender bite. A Red Sea specialty you'll rarely find this fresh anywhere else.

Red Sea specialty

Bayad

البياض

Silvery white fish — everyday value

Light, silvery and dependable — the honest everyday fish that fills Jeddah's home kitchens. Great value at the daily auction.

Everyday choice

Shrimp

الروبيان

Fresh Red Sea prawns by the kilo

Sweet, snappy and sold by size. Take them home, or have them cleaned and flash-grilled before you've finished your coffee.

Sold by size

Lobster

الاستاكوزا

The market's luxury pick

When it lands, it goes fast. Ask early in the day and have it split and grilled on-site for a Red Sea feast.

Ask early

Squid

الحبار

Calamari, hours from the sea

Tender rings and tubes, cleaned for you at the stall. Fresh squid this good needs only flour, heat and a squeeze of lemon.

Cleaned free

Crab

السلطعون

Sweet meat, serious flavour

Lively, heavy and full of sweet meat. Steam them, crack them, or let the on-site kitchen do the messy part for you.

Weighed live
Full Service · خدماتنا

From the Boat to Your Plate

One visit covers everything — choose your catch, have it prepped exactly how you like it, and even eat it before you leave.

01

Fresh Fish Purchase

Daily Red Sea catch on crushed ice — whole fish, shrimp, lobster, squid and crab, weighed and priced transparently at the stall.

02

Cleaning & Gutting

Every stall cleans, scales and guts your purchase on the spot — your fish goes home kitchen-ready in minutes.

03

Cutting & Filleting

Steaks, fillets, butterflied for the grill or cubed for curry — tell the fishmonger the dish and they'll cut for it.

04

On-Site Cooking

Kitchens inside the market grill or fry your fish hours after it was caught — eat it at its absolute freshest.

05

Daily Haraj Auction

Buy at trader prices in the traditional open auction — fish sorted by species, size and quality, prices set fairly in the open.

06

Cold Chain & Comfort

Air-conditioned halls and modern refrigeration keep the catch pristine — and keep your visit comfortable year-round.

The Haraj · الحراج

Jeddah's Daily Fish Auction

The haraj is the beating heart of the market — a tradition of open bidding that keeps prices fair and quality honest. Traders, restaurant owners and everyday residents all bid side by side.

1

The catch lands

Boats deliver the day's Red Sea catch, packed in ice and rushed straight to the auction floor.

2

Sorted & graded

Fish are sorted by species, size and quality — Najil with Najil, Hamour with Hamour — so every lot is honest.

3

Bidding opens

The auctioneer calls an opening price and the bids climb — fast, loud and completely in the open.

4

Fair price wins

When the price settles, the lot is yours — the same transparent deal whether you buy one fish or a hundred.

Insider tip: everyone is welcome at the haraj — you don't need to be a trader. Watch a round or two first, then bid. Sellers will happily clean and pack whatever you win.

Visitor Guide · دليل الزائر

Make the Most of Your Visit

First time at a Saudi fish market? These local habits will have you shopping like a Jeddawi.

Come early for choice

The widest selection is in the first hours after opening — the best lobster and Najil rarely last past noon.

Check the eyes & gills

Fresh fish has clear, glossy eyes and bright red gills. Here you'll rarely need to check — but it's the local sport.

Use the free prep

Ask your fishmonger to clean, scale and cut — it's part of the service. Name the dish; they'll know the cut.

Eat it on the spot

Hand your fish to an on-site kitchen and it comes back grilled with rice and salad — lunch doesn't get fresher.

Pair it with Al-Balad

The UNESCO-listed old town is minutes away — do the market in the morning and historic Jeddah after.

Bring a cool bag

Stalls pack your fish in ice, but a cool bag keeps it perfect for the drive home in Jeddah heat.

Inside the Market · داخل السوق

More Than Fish

The market complex is a full marine ecosystem — restaurants and specialist stores, all under one roof, all listed on Google Maps.

Restaurant

Haraj Al-Samak Restaurant

مطعم حراج السمك
3.9 (30 reviews)
Fishing Store

Al-Bahhar Al-Awwal Fishing & Marine Equipment

البحار الأول لمعدات الصيد
4.0 (31 reviews)
Marine Supply

Al Masder Marine Spares & Equipment

المصدر مارين للتجهيزات البحرية
4.4 (23 reviews)
Fishing Store

Al-Asalani Marine Equipment

العصلاني للتجهيزات البحرية
4.0 (23 reviews)
Loved by Jeddah · آراء الزوار

38,000+ Reviews Can't Be Wrong

4.1
38,652 Google reviews

Unbeatable freshness

Visitors consistently highlight fish that came off the boats the same day.

Variety you won't find elsewhere

From Najil to lobster, reviewers love the sheer range of Red Sea seafood in one place.

Honest auction prices

The open haraj means fair, transparent pricing — a point of pride in thousands of reviews.

A genuine Jeddah experience

Travellers call it one of the most authentic things to do in the city, right beside Al-Balad.

FAQ · الأسئلة الشائعة

Good Questions

Open 7 days a week, from around 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Hours are confirmed on the market's Google listing — call +966 54 808 8630 to double-check on public holidays.

3421 Al Kurnaysh Branch Rd, Al-Baghdadiyah Al-Gharbiyah, Jeddah 22232 — on the Corniche road near the port, minutes from the historic Al-Balad district. Google Plus Code: F5QC+JX.

Yes — cleaning, scaling, gutting and filleting are done at the stall, and on-site kitchens will grill or fry your purchase so you can eat it right there.

The haraj is the market's traditional daily auction. Catch is sorted by species, size and quality, then bid openly until a fair price settles. Anyone can bid — traders, restaurant owners and residents all take part.

Daily Red Sea catch: Najil (coral trout), Hamour (grouper), Shaour (emperor), Harid (parrotfish), Bayad and more — plus shrimp, lobster, squid and crab.

Absolutely — 4.1 stars across 38,000+ Google reviews. It's one of Jeddah's most authentic experiences, and the UNESCO-listed Al-Balad old town is just minutes away.

Find Us · موقعنا

On the Corniche, Beside Historic Jeddah

Address

3421 Al Kurnaysh Br Rd, Al-Baghdadiyah Al-Gharbiyah, Jeddah 22232, Saudi Arabia

Hours

Saturday – Friday (every day)6:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Plus Code

F5QC+JX Al-Baghdadiyah Al-Gharbiyah, Jeddah