You are somewhere between Al Rawabi and Al Khalidiyyah, walking into a shop with no particular expectations. The shelves are stacked floor to ceiling. Arabic spines lean against English ones. A novel you read about three years ago and never got around to buying is sitting right there, marked at a price that makes you want to buy two. You leave with a bag that is heavier than your grocery run and a very specific kind of satisfaction that a new bookstore rarely delivers.
That is the used bookshop experience. And in Jeddah, it is more available than most people realise.
The city does not have a famous secondhand book market on a cobblestone street. There is no weekly outdoor book bazaar drawing crowds on Friday mornings. What Jeddah has instead is quieter and more personal: a handful of shops spread across different neighbourhoods, each with its own character, its own regulars, and its own reason to visit. Some carry academic titles alongside donated fiction. One has been running as a non-profit since the year 2000, sending every riyal from every purchase to families across the Kingdom who need it. Another will buy your old books while you browse for new ones.
This is your introduction to the preloved books scene in Jeddah. Five shops. All worth your time.
1. The One With the Unexpected Finds
The Used Book
The selection here spans fiction, non-fiction, and general titles across Arabic and English. It turns over often. A visit one week looks different from a visit the next, which means repeat trips are worth it.
The joy of The Used Book is the unpredictability. You will not always find what you came for. You will almost always find something better. For anyone hunting for second hand books in Jeddah with an open mind, this is an excellent place to start.
Go with no agenda. Leave with books you did not plan on.
📍 Mishrifah, Jeddah
2. The Oldest Name on This List
Alfareed Bookshop
Alfareed has been a fixture in Jeddah long enough to have earned the loyalty of serious readers. Religious titles, academic books, and literary fiction sit together across new and used sections. Prices are reasonable across the board.
For Arabic literature, second hand Islamic books, or academic references, this is the most reliable stop on the list. The kind of bookshop that does not need to reinvent itself because it has been doing the right thing for a very long time.
📍 Al Rawabi, Jeddah
3. The Charity Shop With a Whole Room of Books
Mawakeb Alajer
Mawakeb Alajer has been running since 2000 and it is a non-profit. Every purchase supports low-income families, orphans, widows, and university students across Saudi Arabia.
The book section, called Al Warraq, carries donated Arabic and English titles across fiction, children’s books, culture, and general interest. Stock changes constantly because it all comes through community donations. Prices sit at the lower end of what you will find anywhere for used books in Jeddah. The space is calm, well-organised, and unlike anywhere else in the city.
When you buy preloved books in Jeddah here, the money goes somewhere that matters. That alone makes it worth the visit.
📍 Behind Al Badriyah complex
4. Mostly Academic, With a Few Surprises
Kunooz Al Ma’rifa Library
The main draw here is academic and reference books. But a few shelves of used novels sit tucked between the textbooks, easy to miss and worth a scan. For anyone already in the area looking for affordable books in Jeddah, it is a natural addition to the route.
Students who need course material and want to check for used novels at the same time will get the most out of this one.
📍 Al Sharafeyah, Jeddah (Search: مكتبة كنوز المعرفة on Google Maps)
5. The One That Also Buys Your Books
Maktabat Al-Jami’ah Lil-Kutub Al-Musta’malah
This shop buys books and sells them. Bring in what you no longer need, browse what they have, and leave with a lighter shelf at home and a heavier bag on your way out. The mix covers new and used titles at prices that feel genuinely fair.
For readers who go through books fast and want to keep the habit affordable, this is the most practical spot for buying and selling second hand books in Jeddah in one visit.
📍 Al Rawabi, Jeddah (Search: مكتبة الجامعة للكتاب المستعمل on Google Maps)
The Shelf Space You Did Not Know You Were Missing
The best things about buying preloved books in Jeddah have nothing to do with price, though the prices are good. They have to do with the discovery. The book you had no intention of reading until it was already in your hands. The Arabic novel sitting next to an English thriller from fifteen years ago. The copy with someone else’s underlines that make you want to read more carefully.
Jeddah’s used bookshops are not loud about what they offer. They do not need to be. The readers who find them come back regularly, fill bags, clear shelves, and come back again. The scene here is small, but it is loyal. And for a city that reads more than it admits, that feels exactly right.
Start with any one of these five. You will figure out your favourite quickly enough.
FAQs
Where can I find preloved books in Jeddah?
The best places for preloved books in Jeddah are The Used Book in Mishrifah, Mawakeb Alajer in Al Khalidiyyah, Alfareed Bookshop in Al Rawabi, Kunooz Al Ma’rifa Library in Al Sharafeyah, and Maktabat Al-Jami’ah Lil-Kutub Al-Musta’malah in Al Rawabi.
Are there English used books available in Jeddah?
Yes. Mawakeb Alajer regularly receives English fiction and non-fiction through donations. The Used Book in Mishrifah also carries a mixed English and Arabic selection. Stock varies by visit, so going in person gives you the clearest picture.
Can I sell my old books in Jeddah?
Yes. Maktabat Al-Jami’ah Lil-Kutub Al-Musta’malah in Al Rawabi accepts books for resale. Bring what you no longer need and browse their selection in the same visit.
Is there a charity bookshop in Jeddah?
Mawakeb Alajer in Al Khalidiyyah is a non-profit shop selling donated books and items at low prices. All proceeds go to support communities and families across Saudi Arabia.
What kinds of books can I find at Jeddah’s used bookstores?
It depends on the shop. Alfareed focuses on religious, academic, and Arabic literary titles. Mawakeb Alajer carries a wide donated mix in Arabic and English. The Used Book and Maktabat Al-Jami’ah offer general rotating selections across fiction and non-fiction.
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