The Jeddah Municipality has allocated SR60 million to repair and renovate heritage buildings in city’s historic area, Jeddah Municipality spokesman Abdul Aziz Al-Ghamdi told Arab News.

Al-Ghamdi said that the project also includes razing dilapidated buildings that are on the verge of collapse.

The old buildings were mainly built using coral stone, mined from coastal locations such as the Al-Arbaeen Lake, and timber taken from the Fatima Valley or imported from the Indian Subcontinent, he said.

The stones are glued together with a muddy substance extracted from the Bahr Al-Teen.

The most ancient buildings in Jeddah include the Nassif House on Yemen Street, Dar Al-Baeshen, Al-Qabil, the Al-Shafie Mosque on Al-Mazloum Street, Dar Al-Banaja and Al-Zahid on Al-Sham Street and Bait Al-Nas.

Some of the buildings are up to 30 meters high. Many have stood undamaged without repair for decades.

Windows on these buildings are covered with latticed woodwork and balconies, which provide shade and insulate the rooms inside from the simmering heat outside.

Essam Nas, a leading businessman, welcomed the move by the municipality to renovate the old buildings in the historic area.