“The ceremony for the development of an array of facilities in Taif was launched recently by Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal,” Bandar bin Moammar, managing director of Taif Investment and Tourism Company, told Arab News on Monday. Prince Khaled is honorary chairman of the company.
Bin Moammar added that the project includes the construction of rest stations on the Taif-Makkah highway, residential units at the Al-Hada mountaintop and developing a water park at the bottom of the mountain to include value-added facilities and services.
He said around 1 million vehicles use the highway annually, hence the necessity of having extra rest stations there.
“Families who use the road for pilgrimage, business and leisure trips do not often find proper rest stations to refresh themselves during their journeys to and from Makkah,” he added.
The stations will include gas stations, supermarkets, auto service stations, restaurants and restrooms.
The project is being carried out in coordination with the Taif municipality, the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities, and other governmental organizations engaged in promoting tourism.
Bin Moammar said 70 residential units are being built at the mountaintop, catering mainly for upper middle class families.
“The 2,000-meter high mountain peak, which already has a 160 room hotel, will have these residential units along with recreation facilities, a swimming pool, shopping complex, a multipurpose hall, a mosque and a car park.”
He said the existing park at the foothills of Mount Hada would be further developed into a fully-fledged theme park.
The company operates a cable car service opened some years ago by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah when he was crown prince. The cable car covers a distance of four kilometers and takes passengers to the Al-Hada mountaintop.
Bin Moammar said the whole project has been designed and implemented with the help of well-known consultancy firms such as Price Waterhouse Coopers, Sim Leisure, Global Century and Fifth Financial Transaction House.
