JEDDAH: The late King Saud bin Abdul Aziz’s palace, which has enormous historical importance for the country, has been handed over to the Makkah branch of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTNH), according to recent reports.

The place, located in the Al-Muabidah area of Makkah, was handed over to the commission following a royal decision.

Dr. Faisal Al-Sharif, the SCTNH director general in the Holy Capital, said that the palace was handed over from the Makkah office of the Ministry of Finance in the presence of members of a committee related to state properties and representatives of the Secretariat of the Holy Capital and Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage.

Dr. Al-Sharif expressed his gratitude to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman for his unlimited support to national heritage endeavors.

“The palace is considered to be one of the most important buildings of urban heritage in the region. It gets its importance from its strategic location, national history, and architecture,” he said.

He noted that the commission would work on the restoration of the palace, and would adhere to the proper engineering standards for the protection of the building. Indeed, the palace is a major heritage landmark alongside a number of other historical sites.