MAKKAH, 20 November 2005 — The first phase of Jabal Khandama real estate project in Makkah will be launched shortly as the promoters said 85 plots of land in the area, located near the Grand Mosque, were now ready for sale.
Businessman Abdul Rahman Faqeeh, main developer of the project, said construction plans for Khandama were prepared in cooperation with the Makkah Development Authority. An auction will be held on Dec. 21 for the sales of the plots and Faqeeh expected a large turnout of investors. The first phase will cover 137,000 square meters of land with 91 plots. Plans have been made for the construction of hotels, shopping centers, restaurants and furnished apartments in Khandama. Substantial areas have also been earmarked for prayer places for both men and women and for car parks.
He said six plots would be set aside for hospitals and offices of police, civil defense, traffic, municipality and the Red Crescent Society. There will be parking spaces for 7,000 cars and 56 buses and prayer place for 40,000 worshippers. The first phase of the project will see construction of 7,458 rooms to accommodate pilgrims. Tarek Faqeeh, supervisor of the project, said Khandama would attract investments worth more than SR6 billion. “We have made use of the expertise of international companies to prepare plans and designs of the project,” he told the press conference. The project would require SR400 million for infrastructure.
Last November, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, while he was crown prince, launched six major projects in Makkah, including the SR12 billion Jabal Omar residential towers. Spread over an area of 230,000 square meters, the Jabal Omar project includes five-star hotels, commercial centers and prayer facilities for 200,000 worshippers.