How I wish that all resorts, parks, hotels and restaurants — except for a few clubs that offer services to all at affordable prices — be moved away from Jeddah’s shore and that the beach is left open to everyone.
Like many coastal cities around the world, Jeddah has a very strategic and important geographical location that distinguishes it with various tourist attractions. Many people desire to come to Jeddah and the more people visit the city, the better for us.
I have visited many coastal cities in different countries. The governments of these countries have always invested in their coastal cities in the best way possible. Some of these cities actually provide the core finance for their country’s economy. This is especially the case when investments are made in a way that makes opportunities for all citizens.
Jeddah, the largest city in the Western Province and the second largest in Saudi Arabia, was never planned properly. It especially has not been planned in a way that would serve the demands of tourism.
For instance, beaches in all cities of the world are open to the public without exception. Unfortunately, Jeddah’s beaches and shores are only accessible to a special group of people — the rich and famous. As for the majority of citizens, they are imprisoned behind those bars lined along the Corniche and unable to enjoy the Red Sea’s cool breezes and beautiful views.
Egypt is a country that has invested smartly and wisely in its coastal cities and generated millions to help the economy. In Egypt, there are many resorts reserved for certain aquatic activities, yet at the same time there is plenty of space on the sea designed for public use.
Alexandria does not have a single private beach except for public clubs that serve a large sector of the Egyptian public. These include a teachers’ club, a lawyers’ club and an engineers’ club. The rest of Alexandria’s beaches are open to the public. Not only that, they have been prepared in a way that is welcoming to both tourists and locals alike.
I wish I could see Jeddah enjoying the same atmosphere sometime soon. Because private owners or investors have already occupied all of the empty land on the coast, the only solution in sight is to demolish existing structures and clear the way for a public beach.
I also wish that officials at the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs would cooperate with the Jeddah Municipality to create short- and long-term strategic plans to renovate and restructure the coast to serve all levels of society and the city’s local economy. Jeddah’s Corniche must be redesigned from the north to the south before all accessible areas become blocked by homes, serving only a few individuals. We really wish to see Jeddah, the Bride of the Red Sea, with beautiful beaches that are able to compete with the best and greatest cities of the world.
