Football fans watch the World Cup match between Algeria and Germany in the Balad area on Monday night.

World Cup football matches shown on large television screens in the Balad area have become a major attraction for many citizens and expatriates at night.

The matches have added festivity to an area that was just recently declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The area is packed with fans heading to the matches and people visiting because of the recently launched “Ramadan Kunna Kida” festival launched under the auspices of Jeddah Gov. Prince Mishal Bin Majed.

Fans packed out venues here on Monday night to watch the match between Algeria and Germany on large television screens installed exclusively for World Cup matches in Ramadan.

Mansur Ali Jafri, a Saudi youth, told Arab News: “It was extremely pleasurable to spend Ramadan in Balad watching the game.”

Hasnain Guda, an Egyptian expatriate, said he preferred to watch World Cup matches in the Balad area instead of going to a restaurant to do so.

The festival will end on Ramadan 19 and start again on Eid for four days. It is expected to draw huge crowds, said Zaki Hassanain, chief organizer of the event.

One of the main attractions of the area is the traditional Hijazi food on sale at night during the holy month.

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