Makkah’s historical Al-Saggaf Palace, a former seat of government, has been given to the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA).Crown Prince Sultan, deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, has issued an order in this respect, said Prince Sultan bin Salman, chairman of SCTA.
“The commission will renovate and develop the palace in an appropriate manner considering its historical value and open it to visitors,” an official statement said.
The crown prince also donated SR2 million from his account for the renovation work.
The SCTA chief thanked Prince Sultan for the gesture and praised his continuous support for the preservation of national heritage. He highlighted Al-Saggaf Palace’s importance in the Kingdom’s history. “Bringing this historical palace under the commission is a significant step toward its protection,” he said.
Al-Saggaf Palace was the center of government during the time of King Abdul Aziz, the Kingdom’s founder. It is one of the oldest buildings in Makkah and is located along Abtah Street in Muabada district. Built by Ibrahim Al-Saggaf, the palace is distinguished for its Islamic architecture and engravings. King Abdul Aziz bought the palace from him in 1350 A.H. (1931 AD) and made a lot of changes.
According to one Saudi historian, work on the palace began in 1346 A.H. and ended in the last days of King Abdul Aziz. It later became the headquarters of the Makkah governorate and the Muslim World League. There were calls to covert it into a museum.
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