Several automobile workshop owners in Jeddah’s northern industrial area have expressed discontent about the recent directives issued by the Jeddah Municipality to relocate their workshops to Usfan.

Many told Arab News that the decision would negatively impact their profits since customers will have to travel farther to access them.

Oman Al-Kilani, the owner of an auto workshop, expressed concern about the implementation of the decision for several reasons, including the commuting distance for workers and customers, the lack of clarification about the relocation date and the fact that relocation would cause disruptions to day-to-day operations.

Abdulbari Al-Yamani, who works in an auto workshop in the area, confirmed that the relocation date has yet to be determined and that workers are still going about their jobs in the industrial area without disruption.

“Usfan is very far from our homes and most of our workers do not have any means of transportation,” he said. “The relocation will affect us greatly, but the issue is not in our hands or the hands of the auto shop owners.”

Ahmed Al-Malki, deputy head of workshops in northern Jeddah, told Arab News that more than 2,000 auto shop owners signed notices about the municipality decision, which he said has caused dismay to shop owners.

Al-Malki said the construction of the new King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) project in Jeddah is the reason behind the relocation of these shops.

“These shops cannot be the first site you see while entering Jeddah,” he said. “The roads there are dilapidated.”

“We have been making way for these changes for a long time in a way that is helpful to shop owners, workers and customers,” he said.

A source at the Jeddah Municipality told Arab News that 90 percent of shop owners in industrial zones have received eviction notices, with a date to be determined at a later stage by the municipality.

The notices make it clear to the shop owners that they are not in liberty of opposing or ignoring the relocation directives.

“Ongoing development projects in the city have delayed the move, much to the advantage of these shops, who now have had ample time to relocate without being adversely affected financially,” the official said.