JEDDAH, 8 October 2007 — Crown Prince Sultan yesterday announced his charitable foundation’s plan to build 280 new housing units for the poor in Makkah and Madinah.
The crown prince made the announcement while distributing deeds of 180 housing units built by the Prince Sultan Charitable Foundation to Makkah’s needy.
“I share the happiness of those families who have received new houses today. I am sure that it would change their lives for the better,” the prince told a ceremony organized on the occasion.
“According to the reports I have received the charitable housing project in Makkah requires more and I order construction of 100 more villas in the city,” Sultan said in a brief speech.
Later speaking to reporters, Prince Faisal ibn Sultan, secretary-general of the foundation, said immediate measures would be taken to build 180 new houses in Madinah and 100 new houses in Makkah as instructed by the crown prince.
He said work on the two housing projects would start soon after receiving plots. “Prince Sultan wants to establish these housing units in ideal places.”
Prince Sultan inspected a model of the housing project located south of Makkah. The project including a mosque was carried out at a cost of SR40 million on an area of 146,000 square meters.
“This is the sixth housing project carried out by the foundation,” said Prince Faisal. The foundation has so far constructed 720 houses a total cost of SR200 million. He underscored the foundation’s humanitarian services.
The beneficiaries of Makkah low-cost houses thanked the crown prince for his humanitarian gesture, adding that it would improve the living condition of several orphans, widows and other needy people in the city.
The foundation, established by Prince Sultan and his sons 14 years ago, has carried out a number of educational, medical and housing projects in various parts of the Kingdom benefiting a large number of people.
The London-based World Philanthropists Organization chose Prince Sultan Foundation for the philanthropist of the year award in 2006 in appreciation of its humanitarian activities at Muslim, Arab and international levels. The organization issued a report detailing the works achieved by Prince Sultan Charitable Foundation in the field of philanthropy. In 2003, it won the King Faisal International Prize.
The foundation established the Science & Technology Center in Alkhobar at a total cost of SR230 million. The state-of-the-art-center was designed to make learning of science and technology both fun and interesting. It has six independent theme halls housing exciting, interactive exhibits focusing on many of scientific and technological ideas and concepts. It is expected to serve more than 300,000 visitors annually.
Other major projects set up by the foundation include the Sultan ibn Abdul Aziz Humanitarian City located north of Riyadh. The city is a 400-bed Rehabilitation Hospital and Medical Center.
Opened in 2002, the city provides therapeutic, supportive and educational services, which are designed to assist in restoring health and function following acute illness.
