Things to Do

Water Activities

Beach Clubs

There are several private beaches (specifically created for expats) where you can enjoy going to the beach as you would back home.

Some of the clubs our staff enjoy going to are:

● La Plage (discounted tickets are provided through the school)

● Silver Sands

● Marjan

● Salhiya (membership required)

● Indigo (membership required)

● Sheraton Beach Resort

● Durrat Al-Arus

Entry is typically around 100-200 SAR per visit per person and most offer beach cots and umbrellas at no extra cost.

Snorkeling & Scuba Diving

The Red Sea is known for its beautiful, lively reefs and is considered one of the best places in the world for snorkeling and scuba diving. Most beaches offer pier access to reefs making it easier on snorkelers and scuba divers to get in and out of the water. In addition, some beach resorts like La Plage, offer daily equipment rental.

For those seeking to get their Scuba Diving license, there are many dive shops and instructors offering courses throughout the year.

Boat Trips

You can book a seat aboard a one-day dive or snorkeling trip on the weekends at one of the many dive-operators in Jeddah. Advance reservation is required. Diving on a dedicated dive trip is convenient because everything is setup for diving. Also, reputable operators will provide a boat crew and a captain that knows the best diving spots to suit the skill level of all divers and have the appropriate safety and first aid training.

Organized Activities

You can find many companies that will do tours around Saudi Arabia, including camping trips. Ask around for recommendations that others have used.

Camping

Desert camping is a popular past time! Camping supplies such as tents, lanterns, coolers and chairs can be found at SACO, the Saudi version of Ace Hardware, or other local shops. Camping supplies are limited and frequently run out, so if you are a die-hard camper, it is suggested that you bring or ship camping gear to KSA. Famous places to camp include Moon Mountain, the Crater, the beach or a spot in the desert.

Entertainment

Truthfully, you’ll get the feeling that there isn’t much to do in Jeddah, let us try to change your mind then! People enjoy eating here; you have many fabulous restaurants that you can enjoy with your friends and family. The best part about restaurants here is the fact that you will find restaurants that suit your budget. Expensive, cheap, or reasonable we have it all!

The school also has many events that you can attend and be entertained, we have the formal GALA dinner, International day, Serenata concert, soccer tournaments, and endless school plays.

Our AISJ Overseas Hires / Saudia City community is also quite active and will host annual social events, such as:

• Halloween - Trick or Treat
• Thanksgiving
• Easter
• The Taste
• Ladies' High Tea at the Hyatt
• Old Balad Tour
• Fishing/Diving Trips

In addition, you can always visit the Corniche areas near the Red Sea, with its beautiful views. You also get to see the world’s highest fountain “King Fahd’s fountain”.

Vox Cinema has recently opened in Jeddah (Red Sea Mall). Tickets must be booked online, and cost approximately 50-60 SAR. There are separate sections for singles and for families.

Near Corniche, there is Al Shallal Theme Park, it is a pretty nice place to visit with your friends/family. Al Shallal has many games such as a roller coaster, restaurants, and many events going on. You also have Attalah Happyland (similar to Al Shallal).

Also on the Corniche, there is Fakieh Aquarium and the Fakieh Planetarium. For some local standup comedy, Jeddah Comedy Club is the place to be! It supports young people who have a comedic sense. It is mostly in Arabic, but it is an option to explore.

Ready for some action? For those of you who like carting, N10 SO is where you need to go. There is a branch in Mega Mall and one in Red Sea Mall. N10 SO doesn’t only offer carting, but also archery, ping pong, bowling, playstation, and laser tag. Gather your friends and let’s see who wins.

You feel like learning more about Jeddah? You should visit Balad, it’s a trip back in time. Many old houses are still standing there, giving you a taste of the old Jeddah. Jeddah also has the world’s tallest flagpole.

If you are interested in arts, there is a shop called “Gallery One” located in Red Sea mall that sells unique art works and signed items by celebrities. A place you must see! Also, Destination Jeddah (Magazine) offers 2 pages “Mark your calendar” which include art exhibits and their locations.

Make sure you get a copy of the Destination Jeddah Magazine for more ideas to keep you entertained and give you more knowledge about Jeddah.

School and Community Sports Teams / Activities

Sports are a big part of the school and community. AISJ offers high school soccer (football), basketball and volleyball to list a few for your children to play. There is also a Little League Baseball team and Soccer Academy for those of you with younger children.

There are a few community sports teams offered for the adults to play. AISJ has a team that plays basketball just about every Friday from August-February with a tournament in the winter against other teams. There is also a basketball league that goes from March-May. You are able to buy customized, tailored jerseys through the team captain, as well. Other sports that we play just for fun every so often are softball during the cooler months. Also around Thanksgiving we have an American Football Tournament (Turkey Bowl) that we play against a few other local teams. There is also a bowling league that some others play on which is located on the Raytheon Compound, adjacent to the school. These leagues are very casual, anyone can feel free to play. Even if you have never played, you can come out and give it a try. It’s a great place to meet new people and get some exercise.

If you have an interest in any sort of sport or organized activity, start a group! Our school community is very diverse and open to these things. Send out an email asking for interested people and you will surely get some responses. We had a group doing casual Volleyball after school in the gym. We have a group of people who sometimes get together to do role play games like Dungeons and Dragons. We have a yearly fantasy football league and March Madness bracket played for money. We also have a school Book Club that meets monthly. Others have walking/running/workout partners. There are also tennis courts on the compound, so that is an option as well. There is a lot to do to fill your time!

US Consulate Events

Social events are held at the American Consulate on a monthly basis. In order to go to these you will first need to find a sponsor and then sign up through the website, www.itsaefsa.com. To get a sponsor, just start asking around at school. We have many sponsors who are willing to sponsor the AISJ staff. There is a fee for going to these events, which ranges from around 175-300 SAR ($46-80) per person. These are fun events and they always have themes. To list a few: Arabian Night, Chili Cook Offs, Steak Night, Rib Night, New Years, Mardi Gras and Saint Patrick’s Day. This is another great way to meet people beyond the school community and have a good time. If you need a little taste of home this a great place to go to get that.

Daycare and Early Childhood Children

Jeddah is a very kid-friendly city. There are many covered playgrounds along the Corniche and throughout the city. Almost every mall has a play place for kids of all age such as KidZania and Billy Beez as well as bowling alleys, arcades and ice skating rinks. Sail Island, Stationary Fantasy and the Aquarium are also a few kid favorites.

Children also enjoy going to the beach resorts on the weekend, riding bikes on the compound and participating in the many activities around Jeddah. Jeddah Blog has a wealth of activities for children.