New corniche opening delayed

The Jeddah mayoralty has postponed the opening of the refashioned Northern Jeddah Corniche after it previously announced it would open it last Sunday. A press statement on the project said it has postponed the inauguration by a month because of incomplete works in toilets, shops and cafeterias.
An engineer working at the site told Arab News that toilets and shops were approved on the project map only four months ago.
The media center in the mayoralty said that “out of keenness of the mayoralty to ensure the corniche visitors' safety and to provide them with complete facilities, it postponed the opening time which was shown in the digital clock at the project site.
They said the contract of operating these facilities is separated from the corniche development contract.
“The Jeddah waterfront development project has finished on time and is ready for visitors," said Abdullah Al-Omari, supervisor of the Jeddah waterfront development project.
He said the delay was to ensure the facilities operated fully. He said that shops were handed in to investors early this week so they can open it on the new opening date.
The project is expected to provide green spaces, seven fountains on the shore and 23 others at sea, 899 car parks and nine restaurants and cafes, in addition to children's playgrounds.