IN-PERSON ISTANBUL HERITAGE(S)

Abstract

The World Heritage site of Historical Jeddah, Al-Balad, has undergone significant transformation due to rapid development and tourism growth. Although such change is inevitable in evolving historic cities, managing it without compromising heritage value requires adequate and contextualised information. Existing studies suggest that achieving urban sustainability is the core objective of urban development. This research investigates the transformation of the historic urban site of Al-Balad in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and evaluates its sustainability through the lens of the Historic Urban Landscape (HUL) approach. This study aims is to visualise and assess spatial changes in the historic landscape before and after World Heritage listing, using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) across selected time frames. In parallel, thematic analysis informed by the six HUL dimensions is applied to identify the broader patterns of changes, such as socio-cultural, environmental, and built form transformations. By integrating spatial and qualitative methods, the study identifies context-specific challenges and opportunities, aligning heritage conservation with sustainable urban development in Saudi Arabia.