JEDDAH, 26 October 2006 — The upcoming visit of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to Najran, Jizan and Asir heralds a new era in the development of the southern region, as the king will launch a number of educational, health and infrastructure projects worth several billions of riyals there.
King Abdullah is scheduled to arrive in Najran on Tuesday on the first leg of his tour of the southern region, his first after taking over power in August 2005. According to Najran Governor Prince Mishaal ibn Saud, the king will launch new development projects worth SR3.26 billion in the region.
Abdullah will lay the foundation stone for four university colleges (which are to cost SR600 million), a project to pump water from the Empty Quarter (SR400 million), health projects including a 200-bed hospital (SR285 million), a higher institute of technology for girls and an institute for vocational training (SR200 million).
“The king will also lay the foundation for 138 schools for both boys and girls, which are estimated to cost SR692 million,” the governor said.
King Abdullah will commission a number of electricity projects, which were established at a total cost of SR800 million. He will also open new buildings of the College of Technology, which was built at a cost of SR95 million and can accommodate about 3,000 students.
Roads and buildings in the three regions have been decorated with pictures of the king and crown prince, and welcome banners on the occasion of the royal visit. Citizens in the regions have expressed their happiness over the visit, saying it would open a new era in development.
King Abdullah is scheduled to launch the Kingdom’s fourth economic city in Jizan on Nov. 5. The decision to launch the new economic city in Jizan was taken after a detailed study on the region’s industrial prospects and its strategic geographic position. Jizan has rich deposits of limestone, dolomite, marble, basalt, gypsum and silica.
Abdullah has already laid the foundation for three economic cities in Rabigh, Hail and Madinah, which are to draw domestic and foreign investment worth more than SR155 billion ($41.3 billion) and create nearly 100,000 new jobs.
Abdullah’s visit to the south comes as part of his ongoing tour of the Kingdom’s regions to meet with people and open new development projects.
Before Ramadan, he visited Jubail, Alkhobar, Qateef, Ahsa, Hail, Qassim and Madinah, where he launched several vital projects including two giant economic cities and two new universities.
During his Jizan visit, Abdullah will launch Jizan University, the first institution for higher learning in the southern region. The university has six colleges — for computer science, engineering, medicine, science, community and applied medical sciences.
The king is also scheduled to open the first phase of a housing project carried out by the King Abdullah Charitable Foundation in Dehama village. He will distribute keys to 372 low-cost houses to people in the village. The project was carried out at a cost of SR100 million.
The new economic city in Jizan is expected to change the face of the region. The project was initiated by the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) to attract foreign investment and promote transfer of vital technology.
