JDURC has introduced a pay-to-park project in Al-Hindawiyah, a retail business hub in Jeddah. Local businessmen, mostly home appliances traders, complain that the new initiative does not allow anyone to park their vehicles in front of their shops without paying and is forcing them to lose business.

Husain Baaqeel, president of the council, said 21 traders have submitted a petition demanding the council's intervention on the issue, which they say could “lead to the closure of their shops for good.”

The traders write in the petition that “our neighborhood is a vital business center of Jeddah as a large number of traders buy their goods from our area. They would need to remain in our shops until the goods are loaded on to their vehicles. On the other hand, the present project has stopped most commercial activities in the area as no vehicles are allowed to park without paying.”

Baaqeel said the JDURC is working for people’s welfare by constructing pedestrian paths and parking lots to ease traffic on streets. However, the interests of traders and residents should also be taken into consideration when new projects are introduced.