It seems Jeddah, the vibrant coastal city known as the bride of the Red Sea, is slowly losing its unique character. Its innovative and hardworking population seem to be running out of steam, unable to come up with initiatives and new ideas that in the past helped their city become an attraction for visitors from all over the Kingdom as well as from abroad.
The citizens of Jeddah have always been pioneers in business, with Jeddah merchants famed for their shrewdness and brinkmanship. As a cosmopolitan center, Jeddah was famous for its souks, malls, and restaurants whether traditional or modern, and the city boasted a rich and distinct cultural and social life thanks to its energetic professionals and artists.
The city’s once busy seaport was tipped to become the leading one in the region before being overcome with bureaucracy and inefficiency that relegated it to a back seat, leaving other ports in the region to take the lead.
As if all this were not enough, Jeddah is now experiencing a steady deterioration in its public services and is threatened with a major environmental disaster from overflowing sewage water flooding into its streets. The charm and bustling activity that once characterized the city is slowly being lost with other cities taking its place. Once known as a city with advanced medical services, it saw people coming to its hospitals from neighboring, as well as distant, countries. But alas, Jeddah is no longer the last word here either; there are new modern medical centers springing up all over the Kingdom.
The other day saw a newspaper report that said the directorate general of education in Riyadh was preparing to launch the third scientific competition in computer sciences for all schools in the Riyadh area. The competition aims at discovering and guiding pupils and students with computer skills and helping them to develop their capabilities.
I have never heard of such a competition in Jeddah. If it weren’t for Abdul Lateef Jameel Company Ltd, which is active in training and the education of youth, Jeddah would be void of such activities. This makes one wonder if Jeddah’s businessmen, university staff, professionals and others are really aware of the situation facing their city.
Why are the people of Jeddah not taking the initiative and coming forward with new solutions to the problems of their city? It is because of their inaction that the city is slowly losing its leading position. Has Jeddah really given up and succumbed to what should not be its fate?
— Arab News Local Press 13 October 2003
