A technician closing a gap at the base of a wall with metal mesh

Rodents and mice in Harat Al Sham Jeddah

Harat Al Sham stands in the northern part of historic Jeddah inside the old wall at Bab Al Madinah, with tall coral stone houses and wooden rawashin framing very narrow lanes. Rats live in the gaps between stones and within the wooden rawashin, travelling beneath the elevated floor platforms. The quarter has retained its ancient structure, and the voids within it are very complex.

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Targeted, not broadcast

Product goes into cracks and runways, never sprayed across open surfaces.
Told before we start

What we will use, where it goes, and what to cover or move before we arrive.
A follow-up visit

We return after the first treatment, because what survives it does not show on the day.
Homes and businesses

Apartments and villas, and kitchens and stores that need a record of each visit.

Why they keep coming back in Harat Al Sham

The narrow lanes and perpetual shade and dampness from sunlight never reaching the ground create the perfect environment for rodents to live safely. The method is set out in full on how we approach Rodents and mice.

The first reason

Old wooden rawashin provide side passages for rats between storeys

The thick wooden rawashin contain gaps and joints, and rats move horizontally and vertically inside them. Old crumbling wood is easy to gnaw. The rawashin form a wooden bridge connecting storeys without rats needing to enter the buildings.

The second reason

Extremely narrow lanes and perpetual darkness hide breeding populations

Lanes so tight that sunlight never reaches the ground create damp, dark conditions rodents love. Residents cannot see rats due to shadow, and infestations grow unnoticed for months.

The third reason

Elevated floors on old stone columns provide fortified tunnels beneath

Upper storeys sit on old stone columns with large voids underneath. Rats shelter in these deep, protected cavities and dig complex horizontal tunnel networks connecting the floors to one another.

Harat Al Sham on the map

Harat Al Sham sits about 0.5 km from Harat Al Mazloum and about 0.5 km from Harat Al Bahr.

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Before treatment

What we read in the building before any bait goes down

The quarter lies within the walls of Historic Jeddah, built from very old coral stone with no modern insulation. Lanes are extremely narrow and the spaces beneath elevated floors run very deep.

An exterior door with a narrow gap at the threshold

The gap under the door

Gaps beneath old wooden doors are very large, and rodents pass easily from the lane into the house.

Pipes passing through a concrete wall from outside

Pipe and conduit openings

Old sewage pipes and gaps around stone columns provide main routes for rats to travel between floor levels.

An electrical cable with its outer sheath damaged

Gnaw marks

Gnaw marks on the wooden rawashin and old furniture are very obvious throughout the quarter.

The corner between a skirting board and a tiled floor

The run along the wall

Rodents run along the rawashin and columns, leaving clear dirt and grease trails on the ancient wood.

Palm fronds touching the edge of a building roof

The route from above

Entry from above comes through gaps between the rawashin and voids between storeys. Main entry is from sub floor voids beneath the platforms.

Sacks of grain stored on a storeroom floor

The water and the food on offer

Water comes from perpetual dampness in the lanes and voids beneath the platforms. Food comes from food scraps and stored grain. Control relies on bait stations placed deep in the rawashin and sub floor cavities.

How we work

1
Inspect and trace the runs

We work the perimeter, the kitchen, the store and the false ceiling, establish the species, the entry points and the water source, and mark the station positions before anything is carried in.
2
Close the openings

Metal mesh, mortar and base strips at the gaps, around pipe sleeves and at vents, because foam and silicone are gnawed through within days.
3
Secured bait and traps

Closed stations fixed on the runs outside the building, and traps rather than loose bait indoors, so that anything that dies stays somewhere we can reach.
4
The follow-up visit

We read the take at each station, replenish what has gone, remove anything found, and close any opening that showed itself once the movement settled.

What rodent control includes

Inspection and a station map

Entry points, runs and station positions recorded, so the same points are checked on every visit.
Sealing pipes and drains

Floor traps, pipe sleeves, vents and the air conditioning drain line, the routes that arrive from outside the unit.
Secured bait stations

Closed and fixed on the outside runs, out of reach of children and animals, while indoors we work with traps.
Treating the nest site

A rodent leaves parasites and nesting material behind, so the nest is removed and the void it sat in is treated.
Aftercare instructions

Stock lifted off the floor, droppings cleaned damp with disinfectant instead of swept dry, and pet bowls emptied at night.
A scheduled follow-up

A set date after the first visit: read the take, replenish the bait, remove anything found and close what is still open.

Landmarks of Harat Al Sham

Bab Jadid stands as a witness at the quarter's northern entrance, and the historic mansions such as Dar Al Zahid and Banaja House tell stories of ancient merchants. The Great Ribat and the Qishla barracks reinforce the military and religious identity of the quarter, each landmark surrounded by tight lanes and perpetual shadow.

Bab Jadid
Dar Al Zahid
Banaja House
Ribat Al Khunji Al Kabeer
The Qishla

Questions about this district

Are the old wooden rawashin a main rat highway?

Yes. The thick rawashin contain gaps and joints, and old crumbling wood is easy to gnaw through. Rats move inside the rawashin unseen, without entering the buildings or appearing in the street.

Do extremely narrow lanes protect rats from predators?

The tight lanes offer complete protection from predators, but they also hide rat activity. Residents cannot see what is happening in the darkness.

Does dampness from blocked sunlight attract rodents?

Completely. High humidity and perpetual darkness provide ideal conditions. Rats prefer damp dark places over dry lit areas.

Do the stone columns beneath floors offer very safe nesting?

Gaps and voids between old stone columns provide very deep safe tunnels. Rats build complete nests beneath the floor platforms and move unseen.

Is the quarter connected to other lanes in Old Jeddah?

Yes, Harat Al Sham sits directly adjacent to other quarters such as Harat Al Mazloum and Harat Al Bahr. Rats may come from neighbouring quarters through sub floor voids.

Does strict cleaning solve the problem in such an old quarter?

Cleaning is necessary but the ancient structure is the core issue. Rats live in deep voids and perpetual dampness regardless of how clean the quarter is kept.

How much does rodents and mice in Harat Al Sham cost?

It is set after the inspection, because the price follows the type of infestation, the size of the space, how far it has spread and the number of visits it needs. Send a photo and a description on WhatsApp and we will give you an estimate before we reach Harat Al Sham.