The new offices, constructed under the supervision of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) and the Jeddah municipality, aim to increase the role of district heads in serving society.

“The move to construct a network of umdah offices in Jeddah has been undertaken following an order issued by Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal to upgrade all umdah offices to allow them to play an important role in the development of the city, which is the gateway to the two holy cities and a major commercial and tourist center,” said Prince Mishaal speaking to journalists.

While umdahs used to function on streets without any modern utilities and in an unsystematic fashion, the new offices have been designed and developed to serve the public in the best manner. The offices will become a hub for the supply of information for the maintenance of security and economic assistance.

“Unlike in the past, the new umdah offices will be equipped to guarantee maximum services to people. They will have a database on all residents in the district. An umdah will also ensure security in their districts by coordinating with the police,” the prince said.

He added that he hopes the project will help transform the urban face of Jeddah, and that similar projects would be implemented in Makkah and Taif at a later stage.

Mazen Battarjee, deputy chairman of the JCCI, said the construction of umdah offices in city districts was the outcome of an agreement signed last year between the Jeddah police, the  municipality and the JCCI.

According to the agreement, the municipality should provide sites and designs while the JCCI should supervise their construction.

The municipality donated the land for the two offices while some businessmen provided funds for their construction.

JCCI Chairman Saleh Kamel has offered to build an umdah office in the North Corniche district. Former JCCI Chairman Saleh Al-Turki was behind the one built in the Al-Rawdah district.