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Jeddah Historic District

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

2014 - Ongoing

Cultural HeritageDowntownTouristicWaterfront

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Project Description

Approach Words: Heritage Preservation, Sustainability, Vibrant City

Public Policy Instruments: Financial Mechanism, Organization, Physical Intervention, Planning, Regulatory

The Jeddah Historic District Project is a redevelopment initiative for the old city area of Jeddah, known as “Al Balad,” a UNESCO World Heritage site¹. This project comprises three critical interventions, including restoring the heritage buildings of the old city, transforming the waterfront area into a vibrant marina, and offering mixed-use spaces to support both tourism and local commerce².

The project envisions the old city as a “hub of culture and the arts, and an international heritage destination.” ³ ⁴, It aims to revive the old city into a dynamic center for business and cultural initiatives, promote sustainable urban development⁵, utilize its heritage and cultural areas to foster a creative and vibrant ecosystem⁶, and ultimately make the city center a global heritage destination in line with the Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.ⁱ

Title: A map illustrates the project boundary, building restoration and conservation action area.

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Title: The dense fabric of Jeddah's Old City.

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Title: Three-dimensional render of the waterfront of the Jeddah Historic District project

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Title: Visitors celebrate Ramadan at one of the public spaces in the Jeddah Historic District.

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Title: A map illustrates the project boundary, building restoration and conservation action area.

Source: Click Here

Title: The dense fabric of Jeddah's Old City.

Source: Click Here

Title: Three-dimensional render of the waterfront of the Jeddah Historic District project

Source: Click Here

Title: Visitors celebrate Ramadan at one of the public spaces in the Jeddah Historic District.

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To implement this vision, a master plan covering 2.5 square kilometers has been developed. It integrates residential, commercial, and cultural activities in one place. The plan encompasses five historic markets, 36 mosques, over 650 historic buildings under restoration, 16 Ribats, and modern public facilities⁷. The master plan includes eight types of spatial interventions, as follows:⁸
• Historic Building Restoration,
• Development of the Historical Jeddah waterfront,
• Culture Square,
• The historic Restaurant,
• Archaeology and excavation project,
• Artistic Sculptures Project,
• Historic Markets Project,
• Al Balad’s Hospitality Experience.⁹

By 2024, the project is expected to create 25,000 jobs. By 2035, it will attract over 20 million tourists annually. It will expand its commercial facilities to include more than 770,000 square meters of gross leasable area for offices and retail, along with more than 3,000 hotel rooms. Also, the development consists of 1.2 million square meters of public spaces, roads and lagoons,
ensuring that the blend of tradition and modernity provides a dynamic setting for both the community and visitors¹⁰.

Owner/Developer (Public)

Ministry of Culture Saudia Arabia ¹⁸

Municipality of Jeddah ¹⁹

Owner/Developer

Al Balad Development Company (BDC)²⁰

Private Owners of Protected Buildings ²¹

Consultant/Designer

International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) ²²

Funder

Al Balad Development Company (BDC)²³

Public Investment Fund (PIF)²⁴

Contractor/Implementer

Municipality of Jeddah ²⁵

Owner/Developer (Public)

Ministry of Culture Saudia Arabia ¹⁸

Municipality of Jeddah ¹⁹

Owner/Developer

Al Balad Development Company (BDC)²⁰

Private Owners of Protected Buildings ²¹

Contractor/Implementer

Municipality of Jeddah ²⁵

Funder

Al Balad Development Company (BDC)²³

Public Investment Fund (PIF)²⁴

Consultant/Designer

International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) ²²

In terms of heritage preservation and construction, the Saudi government has introduced regulations and policies to manage construction and conservation, ensuring they meet international heritage preservation standards¹¹ ¹². Here, the Saudi Council of Ministers has collaborated with UNESCO to enact new laws protecting cultural and historic assets from deterioration and inappropriate development¹³.
The Jeddah Historic District project is a collaborative effort between the Municipality of Jeddah¹⁴, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), and the Saudi Ministry of Culture. The project is funded by Al-Balad Development Company (BDC), which is owned entirely by the Public Investment Fund and serves as the primary developer¹⁵.
The project started in 2014 and is currently under implementation¹⁶. Since 2023, the work has included refurbishing multiple historic buildings, rehabilitating three historic structures into guest lodges, and restoring the façades of several historic restaurants¹⁷.

Project Link, Endnotes and References

Project Link

https://www.vision2030.gov.sa/en/projects/jeddah-historic-district

Endnotes

ⁱ More information about Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 is available at this link: https://www.vision2030.gov.sa/en/ (accessed on 17 August 2024).

References

Centre, U. W. H. (n.d.). ‘Historic Jeddah, the Gate to Makkah’. UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved August 13, 2024, from https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1361/
Saudi vision 2030. (n.d.). ‘Jeddah Historic District’. Saudi vision 2030. Retrieved April 24, 2024, from http://www.vision2030.gov.sa/en/projects/jeddah-historic-district/
Saudi vision 2030. (n.d.). ‘Jeddah Historic District’. Saudi vision 2030. Retrieved April 24, 2024, from http://www.vision2030.gov.sa/en/projects/jeddah-historic-district/
Heritage Centre, U. W. (2023). ‘Nomination Text -Historic Jeddah, the Gate to Makkah – Documents – UNESCO World Heritage Centre’. UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved April 23, 2024, from https://whc.unesco.org/document/167414
Executive Summary-Historic Jeddah, the Gate to Makkah – Documents – UNESCO World Heritage Centre’. (n.d.). . Retrieved April 23, 2024, from https://whc.unesco.org/document/167411
Saudi vision 2030. (n.d.). ‘Jeddah Historic District’. Saudi vision 2030. Retrieved April 24, 2024, from http://www.vision2030.gov.sa/en/projects/jeddah-historic-district/
Saudi vision 2030. (n.d.). ‘Jeddah Historic District’. Saudi vision 2030. Retrieved April 24, 2024, from http://www.vision2030.gov.sa/en/projects/jeddah-historic-district/
Saudi vision 2030. (n.d.). ‘Jeddah Historic District’. Saudi vision 2030. Retrieved April 24, 2024, from http://www.vision2030.gov.sa/en/projects/jeddah-historic-district/
Saudi vision 2030. (n.d.). ‘Jeddah Historic District’. Saudi vision 2030. Retrieved April 24, 2024, from http://www.vision2030.gov.sa/en/projects/jeddah-historic-district/
Centre, U. W. H. (n.d.). ‘Introduction Historic Jeddah, the Gate to Makkah’. UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved April 24, 2024, from https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1361/
Ibid.
Abouhassan, M. (2021). ‘Reviving the Historical Hajj Route in Old Jeddah’. Cities’ Identity Through Architecture and Arts, pp. 167–82. Springer, Cham. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-14869-0_11
Centre, U. W. H. (2023). ‘Decisions reports Historic Jeddah, the Gate to Makkah 2023’. UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved April 24, 2024, from https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/8168
‘إنهاء أعمال تطوير شارع قابل في «جدة التاريخية»’. (n.d.). . Retrieved August 14, 2024, from https://aawsat.com/node/184291
‘Al Balad Development Company: Revitalizing Jeddah’s Historical District for a Global Future’. (2024). . Retrieved April 24, 2024, from https://balad.com.sa/en/
‘Executive Summary-Historic Jeddah, the Gate to Makkah – Documents – UNESCO World Heritage Centre’. (n.d.). . Retrieved April 23, 2024, from https://whc.unesco.org/document/167411
‘Executive Summary-Historic Jeddah, the Gate to Makkah – Documents – UNESCO World Heritage Centre’. (n.d.). . Retrieved April 23, 2024, from https://whc.unesco.org/document/167411
Saudi vision 2030. (n.d.). ‘Jeddah Historic District’. Saudi vision 2030. Retrieved April 24, 2024, from http://www.vision2030.gov.sa/en/projects/jeddah-historic-district/
‘إنهاء أعمال تطوير شارع قابل في «جدة التاريخية»’. (n.d.). . Retrieved August 14, 2024, from https://aawsat.com/node/184291
hasfal. (2023). ‘Saudi Arabia PIF announces major Jeddah development’. Jeddah Construct. Retrieved April 24, 2024, from https://www.jeddahconstruct.com/saudi-arabia-pif-announces-major-jeddah-development-plans-9300-homes-1800-hotel-rooms/
Heritage Centre, U. W. (2023). ‘Management Plan -Historic Jeddah, the Gate to Makkah – Documents – UNESCO World Heritage Centre’. UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved April 23, 2024, from https://whc.unesco.org/document/167412
Centre, U. W. H. (n.d.). ‘Historic Jeddah, the Gate to Makkah’. UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved April 24, 2024, from https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1361/
hasfal. (2023). ‘Saudi Arabia PIF announces major Jeddah development’. Jeddah Construct. Retrieved April 24, 2024, from https://www.jeddahconstruct.com/saudi-arabia-pif-announces-major-jeddah-development-plans-9300-homes-1800-hotel-rooms/
Projects, S. (2024). ‘Jeddah Historic District Program and Al Balad Development Company Sign Agreement to Operate Heritage Hotels’. SaudiGulf Projects. Retrieved April 24, 2024, from https://www.saudigulfprojects.com/2024/02/jeddah-historic-district-program-and-al-balad-development-company-sign-agreement-to-operate-heritage-hotels/
‘إنهاء أعمال تطوير شارع قابل في «جدة التاريخية»’. (n.d.). . Retrieved August 14, 2024, from https://aawsat.com/node/184291