Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Jeddah Mayor Adel Fakieh said 30,000 housing units would be constructed to accommodate families currently living in the area before starting the project.
“Work on the housing units would start by the end of this year,” the mayor said. “These housing units will be given to people living in the area as an alternative housing facility to ensure their rights.”
The new development project, which is to cover 5.4 million sq meters, is expected to change the face of the area. Jeddah Holding Company has presented a report to the governor on the new project.
The report covers social and economic aspects as well as proposals to ensure the welfare and prosperity of residents in the newly developed districts. The company has divided the area into seven sites in order to distribute them among developers.
This is the third project being implemented by Jeddah Holding to develop underdeveloped districts of the city. It has already started developing Khozam Palace area and Ruwais District. The government has already announced massive projects to develop districts east of Haramain Expressway following the Nov. 25 Jeddah floods that decimated entire areas of the city.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah took personal interest in tackling the problems created by the deluge and ordered plans for the overall development of the area, providing it with modern facilities.
The king also ordered that the cases of all those accused of complicity in the November floods be referred to the Control and Investigation Board and the Prosecution and Investigation Commission. The floods killed at least 123 people and destroyed thousands of homes and vehicles.
Prince Khaled said efforts would be made to develop East Jeddah in accordance with the king’s expectations. He thanked King Abdullah for issuing the directive to tackle the problems caused by the floods.
He said the royal decree included not only action against the culprits who were responsible for the catastrophe but also instructions to carry out development projects in affected areas.
