Bayt Banaja: A Palace, a Municipality, a Legacy

Originally part of Daar Al Saada palace, Bayt Banaja served as Jeddah’s municipal headquarters. Begin your journey into a building that reflects a key moment in the city's urban and political development.

Bayt Banaja is not a single structure but a cluster of six interlinked houses, arranged around a central courtyard near the main entrance. While this was a common design aspect in traditional architecture, Bayt Banaja was done on an unusually large scale.

Bayt Banaja's location within the Daar Al Saada palace complex placed it at the heart of Historic Jeddah's elite. The neighborhood was renowned as home to influential families and administrative figures during the 19th and 20th centuries.

In the early 20th century, the building served as the headquarters of the Jeddah municipality, playing a key administrative role during a period of major transformation in the city.

The facades of Bayt Banaja display numerous rawasheen—carved wooden bay windows—each in varying sizes and designs. Together, they form one of the most visually rich examples of Jeddah’s wooden window craftsmanship.

Inside, the house is notable for its detailed woodwork ceilings and decorative chandeliers. The combination of handcrafted elements and imported fixtures points to the cultural and economic status of the Banaja family.

The Banaja family built a private prayer room next to the nearby Al Hanafi Mosque. This space is said to have been used by King Abdulaziz in 1925, adding major historical significance to the building.

While most heritage houses in Jeddah are standalone structures, Bayt Banaja’s design—multiple connected homes with shared outdoor space—offers insight into how extended families and official roles could coexist architecturally.

Bayt Banaja bridges Jeddah’s past as both a civic and family-oriented city. It shows how built spaces served public function and private life side by side.

Today, Bayt Banaja stands as an example of how Historic Jeddah’s buildings were never static—they adapted, evolved, and participated in family life and the shaping of the city. Its rawasheen, courtyard, and prayer space are not just features—they are records of use and meaning.