RIYADH, 20 April — Abdullah Yahya Al-Mouallimi, the new mayor of Jeddah, has said that one of his priorities will be tackling the water shortage in that city, where water use has been on the upswing to keep pace with the burgeoning population.
In an interview with Arab News before his departure for Jeddah next week, Al-Mouallimi, who is also a member of the Shoura Council, said he would hold discussions with various organizations, including the Jeddah Holding Company, which has come up with a plan to address the problem.
“The Jeddah Holding Company will be an important instrument in the process (of solving the water shortage problem) and I am looking forward to learning more about the company, its plans and its aspirations,” he said, adding that he would also benefit from international experts working in the field.
According to official statistics, water consumption in Jeddah rose by 12.8 percent in the past five years to reach 986 million cubic meters in 1997. One of the solutions being mooted is the establishment of independent water research and development centers in cooperation with the private sector for managing water projects. The Kingdom has spent SR 15.3 billion on water projects during the Fifth Five-Year Plan.
The new mayor said that apart from the water problem he would also pay attention to the development of infrastructure, sewage and utility services. “As yet, I have no exact idea of the problems facing Jeddah city. Things will become clear once I start holding discussions on these subjects.”
He expressed his gratitude to the Kingdom’s leadership for placing their confidence in him and said he would strive to measure up to their expectations. He also looked forward to the support and cooperation of those he would be working with, especially his colleagues from the Jeddah municipality, the business community, and the citizens. His tenure is for four years.
Born in Al-Qunfudah in the southern part of the Kingdom, Al-Mouallimi graduated from King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah, in 1973 before he went on to take a B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering from Oregon State University the same year. He obtained his Master’s degree in management from Stanford University (California) in 1983. He also completed various courses under the supervision of Harvard University first in 1981 and subsequently in 1999.
Asked about his hobbies, Al-Mouallimi described himself “as an avid reader. I read widely — history, economics, business administration and literature. I play very few sports unfortunately, but I am fond of table tennis and enjoy walking to keep myself fit. I also write occasionally. But I do find time for my family,” said the new mayor, who has four children.
