JEDDAH: Two Saudi government ministries have agreed to join forces in a bid to preserve key historic and cultural landmarks in the Kingdom while at the same time developing their tourist potential.

The ministers in charge of the country’s Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Ministry of Culture on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) and a strategic partnership to improve urban landscapes in Saudi cities.

The agreement will also see the ministries link up to develop the Kingdom’s buildings classification program and cultural sector and promote bilateral support between them and their agencies.

Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al-Saud and acting Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qassabi put pen to paper during a signing ceremony held in old Jeddah at the Ministry of Culture’s headquarters.

Under the terms of the MoU, the ministries will closely cooperate on a regular basis, set up a joint specialized team to oversee the aesthetics of art works and the status of roads and public places, boost the issue of cultural activities-related permits, and work together to help restore historical and heritage buildings.

They also aim to provide the necessary infrastructure and superstructure to develop cultural and heritage sites with the allocation, where needed, of land, and help preserve the historic identity of Saudi cities through the organization of cultural events and activities.

Any cultural issues would be referred to a joint working group with its recommendations passed on to relevant authorities, and joint committees would be established to support joint work between the two ministerial bodies.

The initiative is aimed at preserving the historical centers of Saudi cities and heritage villages and developing them on an urban, social and tourism level.