Abdullah has spent decades repairing watches and clocks in his small shop, tucked between the winding streets of Al-Balad. For him, each timepiece tells more than hours and minutes; it carries memories. Visitors and neighbors come not only to fix broken watches, but also to share stories — of weddings, journeys, lost loved ones, and childhood adventures. His hands, steady and careful, connect the present to the past, tick by tick.
Every day, Abdullah polishes tiny gears and winds delicate springs, but he also tends to memories. He remembers the laughter of children playing outside, the voices of elders sharing wisdom, and travelers who stopped in his shop, curious about the rhythms of a city that has stood for centuries. To him, Al-Balad is not just buildings and streets; it is life itself, measured in moments and stories.
When tourists ask him about the district, he does more than point to landmarks. He speaks of resilience, community, and pride. His eyes light up as he tells how families helped one another through hard times, how festivals filled the streets with color and music, and how Al-Balad’s spirit remains unbroken despite the changes around it.
Abdullah reminds us that history is not only in stone or wood, but in people who care for the pulse of their city. His watch shop is more than a business — it is a place where time and memory coexist, where past and present meet in the quiet ticking of clocks.
Visiting Al-Balad is more than sightseeing. It is listening, learning, and carrying forward the human stories that make Jeddah truly unforgettable.
