The Dean of the Faculty of Architecture – Design & Built Environment at Beirut Arab University Professor Hassan Abdel-Salam signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding with the Mayor of Saida Engineer Mustafa Hijazi. The agreement aims to foster mutual cooperation in urban planning, design, and heritage conservation, thereby contributing to sustainable development and the improvement of urban and service conditions in the city of Saida.

This MoU reflects the university’s commitment to strengthening its social responsibility and aligning academic research and disciplines with the practical needs of Lebanese cities, leveraging academic and technical expertise to serve the local community.

Under the terms of the MoU, the university will provide technical support, consultancy, and urban studies. This includes preparing planning studies and field surveys, proposing architectural and design solutions to develop public squares, parks, and open spaces, as well as conducting studies on the conservation of heritage and historic buildings, alongside environmental and urban research. Additionally, the agreement entails directing a selection of student graduation projects and scientific research toward addressing specific urban challenges in Saida.

In return, the Municipality of Saida is committed to providing the necessary information, maps, and data, as well as facilitating field operations for working teams. The municipality will also cooperate in securing the funding required to execute agreed-upon projects and cover logistical, operational, and transportation expenses as defined in the specific addenda for each project.

For his part, Professor Abdel-Salam expressed his pleasure in launching a new chapter of cooperation with the Municipality of Saida, emphasizing that the city possesses vision and ambition, and that BAU looks forward to being a partner in its revitalization journey by contributing to its development while preserving its heritage and identity.

In turn, Mayor Mustafa Hijazi expressed the municipality’s pride in collaborating with Beirut Arab University, highlighting that this partnership represents a step toward effective cooperation that contributes to developing the city and elevating its urban and service environment. He noted that the municipality appreciates the university’s academic and civic vision and looks forward to translating this partnership into joint projects that serve Saida and its residents while safeguarding its identity and heritage.