JEDDAH, 18 March 2006 — A senior government official has warned authorities against constructing more high-rise buildings around the Grand Mosque in Makkah without providing adequate infrastructure facilities.
Addressing a scientific Haj research forum at Um Al-Qura University in Makkah, Habib Zain Al-Abidine, undersecretary at the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, said 70 percent of residential buildings in Makkah lacked essential services.
“The demand for housing for the growing number of pilgrims has led to haphazard construction of buildings in the central region of Makkah,” Al-Abidine said, adding that Makkah’s mountainous terrain was one of the problems facing construction work in the city.
Interior Minister and Chairman of the Supreme Haj Committee Prince Naif opened the forum, which was organized by the King Fahd Haj Research Institute, on Wednesday.
Prince Naif noted the important research conducted by the King Fahd Institute in the service of pilgrims. “All efforts in the service of the two holy mosques and pilgrims are carried out on the basis of sound knowledge and information and not in an extempore manner,” the prince told the opening session.
More than 100 researchers from Saudi universities and institutes as well as a large number of government officials attended the forum, which saw presentation of 92 research and working papers.
Al-Abidine referred to plans to implement some 25 new real estate projects in the central region including Jabal Omar, Shamiya and Khandama projects. He urged the government to intervene to ensure that the new projects are implemented with sound planning.
“We have to take into consideration two major factors: the effect of the new projects on the courtyards of the Haram Mosque and other buildings; and provision of infrastructure facilities such as water, electricity and roads,” he said.
Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki, spokesman of the Interior Ministry, emphasized the need for developing the traffic system of the central region and separating pedestrians from vehicle traffic.
Sami Barhameen, secretary-general of the Makkah Development Authority, said the development projects to be implemented around the Grand Mosque were designed in a way ensuring the safety of Zamzam water and enabling worshippers to follow the imam at the Grand Mosque during prayers.
“The authority will not allow any projects that would hinder worshippers from standing in line behind the imam,” he told the forum.
Osama Al-Bar, dean of the King Fahd Haj Research Institute, emphasized his organization’s achievements in improving services to pilgrims.
The two-day forum called for setting up large sunshades in the courtyards around the Grand Mosque in Makkah and improving the city’s public-transport system.
The Makkah Development Authority approved the master plan for the development of the central region of the holy city in December last year. The plan aims at accommodating three million Saudis and expatriates and eight million pilgrims.
Makkah Governor Prince Abdul Majeed said the revised master plan would be the basis for the development of the Makkah city. He hoped that the launch of the Jabal Omar project would be a good beginning for the development of areas around the Grand Mosque.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah last November launched six major projects in Makkah, including the SR12-billion Jabal Omar Residential Towers. Spread over 230,000 square meters, the project includes five-star hotels, commercial centers and prayer facilities for 200,000 worshippers.
The Jabal Khandama project includes construction of hotels, shopping centers, restaurants and furnished apartments.
The first phase of this project will see the construction of 7,458 rooms to accommodate pilgrims. Economists say new real estate projects around the Grand Mosque will draw investments in excess of SR100 billion.
