DAMMAM, 5 October 2004 — The upcoming municipal elections are generating considerable interest in the Eastern Province. The general feeling is that the elections will open a new chapter in the history of Saudi Arabia and they will bring about improvement in civic amenities and general lifestyles.

The elections will be held in phases, the first being in the Central Province followed by Makkah and then the Eastern Province.

Although no candidate has formally announced that he is standing for election, the fact remains that the main subject being discussed these days is the election and related issues. All agree that this will be the first experience of most Saudis with direct democracy and so it is necessary to launch an awareness campaign among eligible voters.

“The voters must be educated about the importance of their franchise and how a single vote can bring about drastic changes in civic affairs,” said Saad A. Al-Otaibi, a local businessman.

Fares Al-Ghamdi, who is considering contesting the elections, said this is going to be an issue-based election. “Candidates with a clear vision of the problems faced by cities and their solutions will have a chance to attract voters. The public will also take into consideration the background of the candidates and their track records,” Al-Ghamdi said.

“There are problems that differ from area to area while there are other problems which are common and are likely to become core issues,” he pointed out.

For example, water is a big issue in Jeddah whereas in the Eastern Province, water problems are restricted to a few areas. In Dammam’s Petromin District as well in Rakah, water is a major issue; for years the residents of those districts have urged the authorities to provide fresh water to residents.

“Isn’t it ironic that Dammam and Alkhobar fulfill Riyadh’s water requirements and yet cannot provide fresh water for their own residents?” observed Hamad Al-Issa, a resident of Petromin District. “My vote will go to the candidate who will ensure uninterrupted supply of fresh water in the district,” he said.

After water, lack of drainage is another major issue. Transportation, environmental protection, roads and health care are other issues that are likely to be discussed before the elections.

There is no denying that Alkhobar has undergone major changes in the past few years. Residents of the city say that many projects were undertaken which make the appearance of the city impressive but there is still a lack of infrastructure.

Similarly residents of Dammam say that the city needs a major facelift and there is a necessity to build a flyover on King Fahd Street leading to King Fahd International Airport.

Although residents agree that the country provides good health care to its citizens, many say that much could still be done to improve health services through primary health centers. Many residents say that in addition to basic amenities, the public will seek from candidates assurances to build more community centers for the young as well as women.

“We ought to have community centers where the time and energy of our youth could be properly utilized,” said Abdul Fattah, a student at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals.