The Serail was built to serve as the seat of the Vilayet of Syria; it housed municipal and provincial offices including Beirut's judicial court. In 1888 Beirut became the provincial capital of the Beirut Vilayet and the Petit Serail hosted the seat of the Wali.[1] Beirut Wali Azmi Bey transferred the seat of the vilayet to the Grand Serail,[2] while the municipal offices and the telegraph service office were moved to the Petit Serail.[3]