JEDDAH, 24 July 2007 — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has urged municipal authorities to prepare a comprehensive study on how to develop Jeddah’s Historical Area and pledged to finance future initiatives.
In a visit to Jeddah Mayor Adel Fakieh’s office, Ibrahim Al-Tasan, head of King Abdullah’s private affairs, said that there was a need to search for the best ways and viable programs to preserve and develop the area, adding that programs would receive financial support from Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.
Fakieh said that the support comes as a huge boost to Jeddah Municipality’s and the Supreme Commission for Tourism’s efforts to develop the historical area. “With this support, the municipality will work on reforming safety measures and making plans to preserve the area, especially from fires, which are one of the primary dangers that currently face the area,” said Fakieh.
The Historic Area of Jeddah is known for its small and narrow lanes, which prevent fire engines from entering deep into it, said Fakieh, adding that the area consists of over 500 structures built from limestone and wood, which help fires spread easily.
“The municipality has currently distributed fire extinguishing cylinders to all buildings in the area. Now we can re-plan safety measures by formulating the best ways to secure the area from fires and other sorts of danger. This support will prevent further tragedies... especially since many people live in old buildings,” the mayor said.
He added that the area is currently undergoing massive development plans, which would create a substantial shift through consecutive rehabilitation phases. “In a few years, Jeddah’s historical area will become a renowned cultural and tourism area of the highest anticipated level,” said Fakieh.
