JEDDAH, 28 December 2005 — The Makkah Development Authority held a meeting here yesterday and approved the master plan for the development of the central region of the holy city. The 23-year plan aims at accommodating three million Saudis and expatriates and eight million pilgrims.
Makkah Governor Prince Abdul Majeed, who chaired the meeting, said efforts were under way to implement new development projects such as the Jamal Omar housing project, King Abdul Aziz Road and Ajyad General Hospital.
“The government is committed to providing advanced facilities to ensure the welfare and security of pilgrims and solve traffic problems in Makkah,” the Saudi Press Agency quoted the governor as saying.
Prince Abdul Majeed said the revised master plan would be the basis for the development of the Makkah city. He hoped that the launch of the Jabal Omar project would be a good beginning for the development of areas around the Grand Mosque.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah last November launched six major projects in Makkah, including the SR12 billion Jabal Omar Residential Towers. Spread over 230,000 square meters, the project includes five-star hotels, commercial centers and prayer facilities for 200,000 worshippers.
The first phase of the Jabal Khandama real estate project in Makkah will be launched shortly, according to promoters who said that 85 plots in the area were now ready to sell. Plans have been made for the construction of hotels, shopping centers, restaurants and furnished apartments in Khandama. The first phase will see the construction of 7,458 rooms to accommodate pilgrims.
Tarek Faqeeh, supervisor of the project, said Khandama would attract SR6 billion in investments. “We have made use of the expertise of international companies to prepare plans and designs for the project,” he said.
Economists said new construction projects around the Grand Mosque would translate into investments in excess of SR100 billion.
According to a real estate expert, property owners in Makkah will receive SR4 billion in rents during this Haj season.
Nearly 1,000 foreign travel and tourism companies rent buildings in Makkah before Haj to accommodate some 300,000 pilgrims. Providing housing to the pilgrims is one of the conditions for getting Haj visas.
