Architect Norah Al-Khamis gave a briefing on a paper about the old Jeddah district that she wrote for her master's in international architectural regeneration and development.

In her paper she said the lack of NGOs and commitment from people living in the area were major obstacles to the development of the area.

Highlighting the recent works of youth volunteer groups, Al-Khamis said the delay in listing the area as a UNESCO World Heritage Site prompted many questions about the current status of Balad.

She pointed out that there is reluctance on the part of owners to understand the heritage value of their properties. She added that they wait for their houses to collapse to make room for building new skyscrapers.

Al-Khamis said there is a communication gap between owners and the authorities.

“This paper will serve as a base for future studies in finding solutions to bridge the gap between the two predominant views of conservation and development, so that Al-Balad can become a conserved and vibrant center of Jeddah.”

Islam Al-Guniami, a professor at Dammam University, discussed the need for more collaboration between government bodies, the private sector, owners of buildings in historic areas and local residents.

Speaking about a case study on the development of Al-Muharraq in Bahrain, Al-Guniami said without commitment from these groups, attempts to instigate development would fail.

“Owners and people living in the area must get involved in the development process to be able to grasp the importance of the project. At the same time the private sector needs to be considered a partner and not a contractor.”

The session recommended more cooperation between different bodies and individuals interested in the development of historical heritage sites as well as taking into consideration the social status of these areas to be able to develop them.

The session also recommended taking into consideration the theories implemented in engineering and architecture as well as using advanced technology to visualize and develop the area. The moderator of the session, Marei Al-Shihri, said there must be strict rules that enforce the protection of heritage in the Kingdom.