Forn Al Sheikh

Forn Al Sheikh is a historic neighbourhood bakery at the corner of Al Dahab Street and Al Basha Street in Al Balad, the old quarter of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It is reported to be a 104-year-old bakery, and it is valued locally as one of the places where traditional Hijazi bread is still baked in a wood-fired oven. The signature product is shabura, a wheat bread made in the old style, along with a sweet round version of shabura that is popular as a snack or breakfast item. Bread of this kind has been a daily staple in the Hijaz for generations and is commonly eaten with ful, cheese, eggs or tea, so the bakery serves as a supplier to nearby breakfast restaurants as well as to households. This is a takeaway counter rather than a sit-down restaurant. There is no formal dining room, and the atmosphere is that of a working bakery in a busy market district, with customers arriving, ordering at the counter and leaving with warm loaves. Noise and bustle are part of the experience, and dress is casual, with modest clothing expected in the district. Prices are low, at roughly SAR 5-20 (about $1.3-5) per item, making it one of the cheapest and most authentic food stops in Historic Jeddah. There is no beverage programme; alcohol is not available in Saudi Arabia, and visitors usually pair the bread with tea or coffee bought nearby. The bakery is active from early morning to around midday, although exact hours are not published, so an early visit is the most reliable. No reservations are taken, as service is walk-up only. Visitors exploring Al Balad often treat the bakery as a first stop, buying bread to carry to a nearby breakfast restaurant or to eat as they walk through the lanes toward the souq and the merchant houses. The most useful advice is to arrive early, since popular items can sell out before midday, and to carry small cash notes for the quick transactions typical of a counter bakery.