RIYADH, 30 July — Deputy Governor of Riyadh Prince Sattam signed here yesterday a contract worth over SR7.64 million with a British-Canadian firm for developing a master plan for the restoration of Wadi Hanifa in the Riyadh region.
Project director Terry Ealey represented the foreign company, Burro-Happold-Moriyama & Teshima, at the signing. The project belongs to Arriyadh Development Authority (ADA), whose officials were also present.
Situated southwest of Riyadh near the Diplomatic Quarter, Wadi Hanifa is rich in date plantation. The Wadi Hanifa Dam is one of the five dams in Riyadh which together have a storage capacity of 12 million cubic meters. The other dams are Al-Hair, Laban, Namar and Olab.
The dams are fed only during the seasonal rains, which have spawned oasis villages around Wadi Hanifa. A date factory bearing the same name is located in the area.
Wadi Hanifa has high tourism potential as it sits close to the ruins of the ancient town of Al-Hunai. The plan to develop Wadi Hanifa for agricultural and recreational purposes follows a ministerial council resolution passed in March 1999.
Ealey told Arab News after the signing ceremony that the contract was intended to develop a master plan for Wadi Hanifa development. He said Wadi Hanifa, which today has a dry riverbed, was once a fertile area rich in agricultural and mineral resources.
Following its extensive use for agricultural purposes, the river dried up. The situation was further compounded by mineral exploration. “As a result, it has become a dumping ground for municipal waste. The plan calls for using it as a recreation center.”
Explaining the importance of the project, Ealey said Wadi Hanifa had played an important role in the development of Riyadh in the early days. The master plan is to be completed by February next year. The next stage would involve calling for tenders for the restoration project.
