Al-Bilad Newspaper

Al-Kandarah district in Jeddah is, according to some, named after the condor – a large predatory bird native to the US that can weigh up to 13 kilograms.

Other historical accounts claim that the word comes from the Turkish word for shoes. It is said that the Turks were the first to give the neighborhood this name because it looked like a shoe on the city’s map. Another historical account claims that the name is derived from the Turkish word for bloodbath. It is said that during the Turkish time there was a battle in the neighborhood in which much blood was spilt.

Some historians claim that the name is derived from the name of Sheikh Muhammad Bin Omrah Al-Kenaidri, the tribal chief of Al-Kanadrah tribe who lived in the neighborhood in the 1940s. At the time, the neighborhood was located on the outskirts of Jeddah and used to be a quiet place where people went to escape from the hustle and bustle of the old city. The neighborhood is historically significant because it was the part of Jeddah that King Abdul Aziz first entered and where he was given a huge reception.

In the past, Al-Kandarah was a popular place to live because of its proximity to the old Jeddah airport and seaport. Numerous hotels and public buildings were constructed there, including Al-Kandarah Palace, Jeddah National Hospital, the Bureau of Council of Ministers, the Department of Passports, the radio station, Saudi Airlines and the pilgrims city. Many well-known businessmen, government senior officials and dignitaries also lived in the neighborhood. That is why people used to describe Al-Kandarah as the capital of Jeddah.