The history of Madinah as a strategic city dates back to the earliest days of Islam, as pilgrims poured into the Arabian Peninsula from the Levant and North Africa to perform Haj or Umrah in Makkah. It was once a walled city. Its religious, cultural and commercial importance makes Madinah a true international gateway to Saudi Arabia.
Madinah’s continuing value as a gateway city in the 21st century received a boost recently when Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman initiated a SR5.1 billion project that will focus on education and health sector, but also water and electricity services and cultural centers.
The Islamic University will receive an estimated SR 843 million alone for the construction of teachers’ housing, new deanship, admissions and registration buildings, laboratories, an Islamic research center, Arabic Language faculty offices and sports halls.
The Islamic University project dovetails into a similar project that will allow for the disbursement of SR174 million for the construction 25 buildings for boys’ schools and SR 77 million for 11 buildings for girls’ schools.
Water storage, always an issue in Madinah, will be addressed with a SR 235 million project to expand water storage to 3 million cubic meters.
Taibah University will receive SR 693 million for new administration buildings and female students’ facilities at the Yanbu and Al-Ula branch campuses. In addition, a 500-bed expansion at the Madinah General Hospital at a cost of SR415 million has also been approved.
The allocation of funds does not include the previously approved a 40,000-square-meter scientific center earmarked for the Madinah area, which is also part of a string of 14 science centers throughout the Kingdom. These projects are in addition to the Commission for Tourism and National Heritage’s efforts to build museums to draw domestic tourists.
All of these projects come at a time when the government is making efforts to diversify its sources of revenue to boost the economy. Although Saudi Arabia is experiencing some significant challenges in improving the economy it still must contend with the country’s crumbling infrastructure and ever-expanding population of Saudis under the age of 25. Educational and health care facilities are a critical need as are cultural and scientific centers to accommodate young people who have bigger appetites for knowledge.
Saudi Arabia should invest in Madinah and Makkah, not only as religious centers for Muslims but also cultural centers to teach young Saudis what it means to be an Arab and Muslim in the 21st century. The Saudi government understands that improving our infrastructure and our scientific and technology centers are an important step to correct the Kingdom’s economic difficulties. Let’s not forget that the construction industry contributes about 8 percent to the Kingdom’s Gross Domestic Product and remains the largest construction market in the region. By continuing to build, the industry helps diversity the economy, create jobs and achieve a balance in residential and commercial buildings.
Madinah’s continuing value as a gateway city in the 21st century received a boost recently when Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman initiated a SR5.1 billion project that will focus on education and health sector, but also water and electricity services and cultural centers.
The Islamic University will receive an estimated SR 843 million alone for the construction of teachers’ housing, new deanship, admissions and registration buildings, laboratories, an Islamic research center, Arabic Language faculty offices and sports halls.
The Islamic University project dovetails into a similar project that will allow for the disbursement of SR174 million for the construction 25 buildings for boys’ schools and SR 77 million for 11 buildings for girls’ schools.
Water storage, always an issue in Madinah, will be addressed with a SR 235 million project to expand water storage to 3 million cubic meters.
Taibah University will receive SR 693 million for new administration buildings and female students’ facilities at the Yanbu and Al-Ula branch campuses. In addition, a 500-bed expansion at the Madinah General Hospital at a cost of SR415 million has also been approved.
The allocation of funds does not include the previously approved a 40,000-square-meter scientific center earmarked for the Madinah area, which is also part of a string of 14 science centers throughout the Kingdom. These projects are in addition to the Commission for Tourism and National Heritage’s efforts to build museums to draw domestic tourists.
All of these projects come at a time when the government is making efforts to diversify its sources of revenue to boost the economy. Although Saudi Arabia is experiencing some significant challenges in improving the economy it still must contend with the country’s crumbling infrastructure and ever-expanding population of Saudis under the age of 25. Educational and health care facilities are a critical need as are cultural and scientific centers to accommodate young people who have bigger appetites for knowledge.
Saudi Arabia should invest in Madinah and Makkah, not only as religious centers for Muslims but also cultural centers to teach young Saudis what it means to be an Arab and Muslim in the 21st century. The Saudi government understands that improving our infrastructure and our scientific and technology centers are an important step to correct the Kingdom’s economic difficulties. Let’s not forget that the construction industry contributes about 8 percent to the Kingdom’s Gross Domestic Product and remains the largest construction market in the region. By continuing to build, the industry helps diversity the economy, create jobs and achieve a balance in residential and commercial buildings.
