JEDDAH, 28 October 2005 — New Madinah Governor Prince Abdul Aziz ibn Majed said the holy city would witness the launch of several development projects in the coming years.
“The Saudi leadership pays utmost attention to the two holy cities. A number of strategic studies are being conducted for this purpose. And more projects, God willing, are in the offing,” the governor said.
Prince Abdul Aziz was speaking to reporters after opening a charitable housing project in Nabah village, located on the west coast, recently. King Abdullah Housing Foundation carried out the project at a cost of SR40 million.
Prince Abdul Aziz, who was named Madinah governor on Saturday, said he would visit all cities and townships in the Madinah region shortly to meet with their administrators and learn about their development requirements.
He commended the efforts made by previous governors Prince Abdul Majeed and Prince Muqrin for the development of Madinah and welfare of its people.
Prince Abdul Aziz toured the charitable housing project consisting of 188 houses before handing over their keys to deserving citizens.
“King Abdullah authorized me to open this charitable project, which meets all requirements of its residents including health and education,” the governor told the gathering.
Prince Abdul Aziz commended the foundation’s endeavors to establish low-cost housing units in different parts of the country to provide decent housing for the poor.
“This project realizes social, economic, cultural and educational development,” he added.
Addressing the ceremony, Dr. Yousuf Al-Othaimeen, secretary-general of the foundation, said King Abdullah established the foundation three years ago when he declared a war on poverty.
“The new houses in Nabah village are designed in such a way that they could be expanded in accordance with the needs of their new owners,” he said.
The project includes mosques, schools, health, community and training centers, basic services such as water, electricity, telephone lines, roads and sewerage network, Othaimeen said. He said the Nabah project was part of an emergency housing scheme, which aims at establishing 2,200 houses for the poor in various parts of the Kingdom in the first phase at a total cost of SR500 million.
He said 88 of the 188 houses belonged to Al-Birr Charitable Society in Yanbu, adding that the foundation had carried out some renovation works on them.
A beneficiary of the project thanked King Abdullah for providing modern living facilities for the poor and needy.
On Wednesday, Prince Abdul Aziz met with imams of the Prophet’s Mosque, Islamic scholars and top officials in Madinah and commended the government’s efforts in the service of pilgrims visiting the city.
