It will aim to provide 1,246 houses in different parts of the Kingdom.

“We are now furnishing the Al-Laith houses before they are handed over to the beneficiaries,” said Prince Faisal bin Sultan, secretary-general of the foundation.

He said the foundation has completed 80 percent of another housing project in Hail where 50 homes and a 1,000 capacity mosque are under construction.

“We have also completed about 40 percent of another housing project in Tabuk, constructing 250 housing units in nine locations,” Prince Faisal told the Saudi Press Agency.

He said Crown Prince Sultan, deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation and chairman of the foundation, has given utmost importance to housing projects. “He has given his directives to complete all projects as quickly as possible,” he said.

The housing projects represent the foundation’s contribution to social development, the secretary-general said. “We started the new housing projects in Makkah, Hail and Tabuk on the crown prince’s directives to build 500 homes at a cost of SR197 million.”

Construction work for the new housing units is progressing well in the three provinces simultaneously, the prince said.

Prince Faisal highlighted the importance of housing projects, saying it would help their beneficiaries lead a peaceful life with their families and make constructive contributions to society.

The foundation has so far constructed about 700 housing units in different parts of the Kingdom provided with infrastructure facilities such as roads, parking areas, electricity and water networks and communications access.

They are located in Makkah, Asir, Tabuk, Najran, Hail, Riyadh and Jazan provinces. The foundation has spent SR250 million on these projects.

Each housing unit covers an average area of 160 square meters and comprises three bedrooms, a sitting room, a dining room, a living room, a kitchen and three toilets. Every project includes a mosque that can accommodate at least 500 worshippers, primary schools for boys and girls, a health center, a community center, a library and recreation facilities for children.

“The beneficiaries for these projects are selected by a committee headed by the governor of the province where the project is established,” Prince Faisal said. Beneficiaries would not be allowed to rent or sell the house to anybody else or use it for any other purpose other than living with family.