🇸🇦 City — Saudi Arabia Population: 4,697,000

Can I Drink Tap Water in Jeddah?

Safe
4.9/5
Quick Answer
Tap water in Jeddah is safe to drink and regulated under Saudi Arabia’s national drinking water standards.
Jeddah’s tap water is generally safe to drink under Saudi Arabia standards. The supply is mainly desalinated seawater and is treated with filtration, chlorination, UV treatment. Most visitors can drink from the tap; bottled water is optional for taste.
Rankings & Comparisons
Safety Overview
Global rank #4 out of 152
Safety rating 4.9/5
Dataset average 3.8/5
Rank in Saudi Arabia #1 out of 5
Saudi Arabia average 4.2/5
Top Cities in Saudi Arabia
  1. 1 🇸🇦
    Jeddah
    4.9/5 Safe
  2. 2 🇸🇦
    Medina
    4.9/5 Safe
  3. 3 🇸🇦
    Dammam
    4.9/5 Safe
  4. 4 🇸🇦
    Riyadh
    3.2/5 Caution
  5. 5 🇸🇦
    Mecca
    3.0/5 Caution
Water Quality Details
Jeddah’s drinking water is supplied under Saudi Arabia’s national standards and monitored by local utilities and health authorities. The system draws primarily from desalinated seawater and uses filtration, chlorination, UV treatment before distribution through the city network. Taste and mineral content can vary by neighborhood and building age, and the water is typically moderate with an estimated TDS around 190 mg/L. If you notice a chlorine or mineral taste, chilling the water or using an activated carbon filter can improve flavor without affecting safety.
Water sourceDesalination
TreatmentFiltration, Chlorination, UV Treatment
HardnessModerate
TDS190 ppm
Taste rating4/5
Taste notesgenerally good municipal water quality · regional mineral variation is possible · older building plumbing can affect taste
Contaminant Data
Contaminant Measured Limit Status
Lead (old premise plumbing, localized) — 0.01 mg/L
WHO
 OK
Disinfection by-products (monitored) — — OK
Residual chlorine/chloramine — — OK
Hardness/mineral content (regional variation) — — OK
Practical Tips
🧊 Ice is safe 🪧 Brushing teeth safe 🍽 Restaurant water safe 🔥 Boiling not needed 💧 No filter needed
  1. Tap water is safe to drink throughout the city
  2. In older buildings, let the tap run for 10–20 seconds before drinking
  3. Chill tap water to reduce any chlorine taste
  4. Use an activated carbon pitcher if you prefer a milder taste
  5. Carry a refillable bottle to avoid single-use plastics
  6. Ice is generally safe in reputable restaurants and hotels
Bottled water~$1.2 USD (Everywhere)
Traveler Advice
Risk level: Low Diarrhea risk: Low
Jeddah tap water is safe for most travelers. You can drink, brush teeth, and use ice in reputable restaurants and hotels. If you have a sensitive stomach or dislike mineral taste, opt for filtered or bottled water.
Most travelers can use tap water in Saudi Arabia without issues in normal conditions; practical concerns are usually local advisories or older plumbing.
  • Saudi Arabia tap water is generally safe in normal conditions
  • Check local advisories during rare utility incidents
  • Use only cold tap water for drinking/cooking in older buildings
Sources & References
Official Report
World Bank API - Safely managed drinking water services (% of population) - Saudi Arabia
Official Report
World Bank API - Basic drinking water services (% of population) - Saudi Arabia
Official Report
World Bank API - Population, total - Saudi Arabia
Official Report
WHO - Drinking-water (Fact sheet)
Data confidence: Low Last updated: 2026-02-24
Also in Saudi Arabia
🇸🇦 City Caution
Riyadh
3.2/5
Riyadh has a large regulated water utility system, but travelers should use caution drinking directly from the tap becau…
🇸🇦 City Caution
Mecca
3.0/5
Mecca has regulated water and utility infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, but travelers should use caution drinking directly…
🇸🇦 City Safe
Medina
4.9/5
Tap water in Medina is safe to drink and regulated under Saudi Arabia’s national drinking water standards.
🇸🇦 City Safe
Dammam
4.9/5
Tap water in Dammam is safe to drink and regulated under Saudi Arabia’s national drinking water standards.