ALKHOBAR, 12 May — The skyline of Alkhobar no longer gives the impression of a residential district. In the past two years, it has been transformed to the extent that someone who visited the city then would not even recognize it now. New skyscrapers dot the city’s entry points from Dammam and the city’s planners have come up with a master plan to redevelop the whole city — once referred to, difficult it may be to believe, as the Eastern Province’s "sleepy town".
Ibrahim Baghanaim, the mayor of Dammam Municipality, told Arab News that once all the projects are completed, Alkhobar will have been transformed into the most beautiful city not only in the region but probably in the whole of the Middle East.
"We are turning it into a model town," he stated.
The city in its old form has already been a tourist attraction for those coming from neighboring cities, as well as neighboring countries like Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait. Its clean beach and relaxed atmosphere were the main draws.
The new Master Plan insists that once all the projects are completed, the new-look city will retain its typical characteristics while offering much better facilities. The planners say that they want to change its status from a residential district into a commercial town, which will also become main banking district in the region. The plan has taken into consideration the changing global order and the fact that one day the Kingdom will be a part of WTO, and that the concentration of banking activities will be extended from neighboring Bahrain. Alkhobar is just 40 kms from Manama.
The development of Alkhobar has been on the cards for some time. But somehow many factors, ranging from economic to modalities and mechanism, never allowed it to be translated from the blue print into a reality. There is no doubt that the Gulf War gave immense exposure to the city, which was host to not only the allied forces but also to hundreds of foreign journalists and television channels. A sleeping town which, until then, was known in the international community only because of its proximity to the headquarters of Saudi Aramco and neighboring Bahrain, suddenly caught the imagination of international business community and those who have interest in natural beauty and landscape. The city was the greenest town in the whole region.
Local investors realized that the exposure it got during the Gulf War was bound to have a chain reaction and attract foreign investors as well as tourists, and as a result investments started pouring in — especially in real estate. In just a few years, a series of shopping malls started coming up in the city, and Al-Rashid Mall continues to be Alkhobar’s pride.
The shifting of the airport from Dhahran to Dammam did shake the confidence of investors, but they soon shrugged off their fear and came up with a new determination that the city has to be given a new identity. The real impetus to such determination came from the government, which identified itself with the cause. Prince Muhammad ibn Fahd, governor of the Eastern Province, took the initiative and asked authorities to prepare a master plan.
The plan is divided into three parts: to widen the narrow and congested streets and thus ease the main traffic bottlenecks; to improve the public facilities and beautify the city in general and tourist spots in particular; and to change its identity from a residential district into a hub of banking and commercial activities.
It was a mammoth project and the government stood behind the private sector with all its support. The Plan identified the narrow lanes and streets. Within a week Alkhobar’s residents found themselves in the midst of dug-up streets and endless detours and re-routing. But they, too, supported this endeavor, and never complained about the hardship they faced.
The famous Dhahran Street, which passes through the main city center to the Old Airport, Saudi Aramco and then meets the Jubail Highway, was the top priority for the authorities. As per the plan, Dhahran Street will be a multiple lane road and will have subways for pedestrians.
A similar project was undertaken for King Abdul Aziz Street, which leads to the Alkhobar-Dammam Highway on one side and the city center on the other. It also meets with the Dhahran Street. Here the plan is also to build multi-lane roads with subways and parks. The Municipality department has been entrusted with the restoration of the city greenery once the infrastructure is completed.
The second part of the plan, to improve and beautify the public facilities, is almost reaching completion. The Khobar Corniche is to be expanded and new facilities added. Today the Corniche may be smaller than that in Jeddah, but is more beautiful — and more importantly is of practical use to the city’s residents. On the Corniche itself a massive health center was built, with a jogging zone punctuated by milestones so that joggers know how far they have jogged.
There are basic amenities for physical exercise. Children have not been ignored: various recreational, as well as amusement sections have been set up. The whole area is dotted with waterfalls, and artificial lakes and pools. There is no denying the fact that Khobar Corniche has won the hearts of those who used to go to Dammam Corniche.
On its part, the private sector began constructing commercial centers, shopping malls and business centers. The King Abdul Aziz Boulevard, which once had only one tall building — Flour Arabia — now resembles downtown Manhattan. The Saudi British Bank, Saudi Hollandi Bank, the upcoming headquarters of Rashid Al-Rashid Group of Companies, and Al-Falak Tower are just some of the new structures which symbolize the transition of the city.
The sad consequence of all this is what is happening — or, more precisely, not happening — to Dammam. The city is devoid of any construction or development project for the time being. Reports are that even a number of new projects that were initially meant for Dammam have now been shifted to Alkhobar.
