JEDDAH, 9 January 2007 — The municipal officials completed yesterday the final preparations to establish a new department for developing and maintaining structures in the city’s crumbling historical area, according to Jamal Abo Imara, head of the social development and media department at the Jeddah Municipality.

The new department would work on developing the area and refreshing it both socially and economically so that it would become a place to visit for all the city’s guests, he said.

The main goal is to establish a comprehensive civilized vision for the historical area and to preserve its heritage, he added. The role of the department would include categorizing and monitoring the current old structures according to international standards in addition to conducting studies about their conditions.

He said that the municipality would also rehabilitate constructors and bring old craftsmen to rebuild existing structures such as the old city wall, the main city gates in addition to other structures that are located in Bab Makkah (the gateway of Makkah) area.

Tourism projects are also included in the agenda of the new department, Abo Imara said, adding that they include establishing a five-star hotel with a traditional design, resurrection of old habits such as traditional coffee shops and restaurants and the Markaz, which is a gathering place in the street for elders where they drink tea in the afternoon.

He said the projects also include establishing a base for arts such as a house for fine artists, photographers and actors in addition to a museum about the Old City.

Imara said that they have also planned a number of social, environmental and public service projects that would serve the area and all its visitors. Social projects include a center to teach making of handicrafts, a youth house and a public library.

Establishing a traditional structure to act as the governorate office, a multi-floor car park and a base for managerial services, safety and security are parts of the public service projects. Environmental projects would include establishing a simple transport method that is environmentally safe and developing the infrastructure of the whole area, he said.

Imara did not provide any information related to estimated costs or sources of revenue. It is common for cities to establish long-term trusts and non-profit organizations for the upkeep and maintenance of important landmarks, such as New York City’s Central Park or Mexico City’s historic downtown.

Meanwhile, the deadline for the next round of submissions to the UN’s World Heritage preservation program is Feb. 1. Saudi Arabia intends to submit Al-Balad for World Heritage status. If this deadline were broken, then Jeddah’s downtown wouldn’t achieve this status until 2009.

“The process after nominations takes about 18 months,” said Véronique Dauge, director of the Arab Unit at UNESCO.

(United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). “The deadline is the first of February for the committee meeting the following year. It usually takes about a year for that nomination process because the advisory bodies like to have an overall picture of the sites on the tentative list, as well as the country’s efforts to protect their heritage.”

As of December, Saudi Arabia had not yet submitted their nominations, which will include Jeddah’s historic center.