Ramadan festival breathes new life into Saudi's old Jeddah

Jeddah

Residents of the Saudi Red Sea city of Jeddah are slowly returning to its historic centre, where a Ramadan cultural festival and UN heritage status are giving new life to the old quarter.

Last year the United Nations added Jeddah to its UNESCO global heritage list, acknowledging its distinctive architecture, which evolved from the city's centuries-old role as a global trading hub and the gateway for pilgrims visiting Islam's holiest sites.The cultural festival that began on June 18, the first day of the fasting month of Ramadan, coincides with a broader tourism drive in Saudi Arabia.

The kingdom is targeting its own citizens as well as the millions of Muslims from around the world who undertake religious visits.Jeddah's Deputy Governor Mohammed al-Wafi said, "We wanted to bring life back to this area after its people had abandoned it, and we achieved that."

He said a number of homes in the old quarter had already been renovated, but much work still needs to be done in the historic heart of the kingdom's second-largest city.Among  old Jeddah's most famous attractions is the Sharbatly House, made of coral, where legendary British First World War intelligence officer T.E. Lawrence stayed in 1917.

Like other buildings in the district, which also includes centuries-old mosques, it fell into disrepair before the quarter's UNESCO listing began to spark a revival. Sami Nawar, head of the historic area known to residents as Al-Balad, said several prominent families are among those who have reconstructed homes at their own expense, and more than 700 restoration licences have been granted over the last five years.

Tourism and finance ministry officials are looking at how to help other owners fund their renovations, possibly through loans, Nawar said.