JEDDAH, 4 July — Efforts are under way to establish a full-fledged complex for scientific and technological research near Makkah. Governor of Makkah Prince Abdul Majeed has set up a committee to supervise the project, to be set up at Shumaisy on Jeddah-Makkah Expressway.
Dr. Mazen Balila, a member of the committee, said the panel will review feasibility studies for the complex, named after Prince Abdullah, the regent. It will also set out a timeframe to carry out the various phases of the project within the next five years.
“The Prince Abdullah Complex for Science and Technology aims at boosting the Kingdom’s technological development and providing training to Saudis in areas required by the job market,” Balila told Okaz newspaper.
“It is an educational cum investment project that will be carried out with the support of the private sector,” he added.
The new complex, he said, will be similar to the industrial cities of Jubail and Yanbu. “But unlike the industrial cities, the complex will focus on developing technology and conducting advanced scientific research,” he added.
The project, covering an area of 50 million square meters, will comprise a private university for technology as well as housing facilities for students and staff. There will be colleges of various technological specializations, advanced training centers and a center for the development of the two holy mosques.
The Makkah Provincial Council, which met in the holy city on Tuesday, reviewed the project’s plan. Prince Abdul Majeed, who chaired the meeting, stressed the significance of the project in boosting the Kingdom’s technological and scientific progress.
The project’s supervising committee, headed by Prince Abdul Majeed, includes mayors of Makkah and Jeddah, Taif Municipality chairman, two members from the Makkah Provincial Council — Balila and Yasser El-Dabbagh — two members from the Makkah Development Authority, two professors from King Abdul Aziz University and Umm Al-Qura University, Dr. Adel Bashnak of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, a representative of the Finance Ministry and Dr. Hatem Marzouki, secretary-general of the Makkah Provincial Council.
New cancer institute
Al-Noor Specialist Hospital in Makkah said it was planning to establish a cancer treatment center. According to Al-Jazirah daily, the project is estimated to cost SR17 million.
Dr. Khaled ibn Obaid Dhafer, director of the hospital, said the new center will provide advanced health care services to Saudis, expatriates and pilgrims.
The hospital has already expanded its emergency and accidents units to handle 50 cases at a time. “We have also brought together all external clinics in a single building,” he added.
