Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH — Under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture, the Historic Jeddah Administration has started taking steps to maintain the heritage buildings at Al-Balad district, which was inscribed on UNESCO’s list of historic sites.

The management said as many as 34 buildings on the verge of collapse in Al-Balad will be repaired to preserve public safety and prevent the deterioration of the old structures.

The maintenance and repair work was a joint effort between the administration, the municipality, the proprietors and leaders of social work in the Red Sea coastal city.

The administration has signed agreements with five local contractors and a number of experts to do the job.

The contractors and the experts were asked to preserve the facade structures while carrying out the maintenance work.

The administration said all the repair and maintenance works will be executed according to UNESCO’s standards and specifications.

It said urgent measures were being taken to preserve the buildings at the historic district until a long-term plan would be adopted to maintain them for long term.

Abdulaziz Al-Issa, director general of the Historic Jeddah Administration, said Al-Balad has an immense historic and cultural value. He added that the age of the buildings that were being revamped ranges from 100 to 1,400 years.

He said 400 buildings in the district were on the UNESCO’s list, in addition to 200 other buildings in the buffer zone around them.

The age of the buildings that were being revamped ranges from 100 to 1,400 years.