Impoverished residents in old districts of Jeddah claim they fear for their lives since they dwell in decaying, dilapidated buildings. Most of the people living in these houses are from Sudan, Yemen and Asian countries, who cannot afford to live in more upscale neighborhoods. Most of these structures are located in rundown areas in the the districts of Ghulail, Nuzla, Hendawiyah and Sabeel.

"I know I’m living in an old, dangerous building. However, I cannot leave it and look for another apartment. Rent is very high in Jeddah. I’m currently paying SR 14,000 a year," Abdul Raheem Adem, a Sudanese resident living in one of these crumbling structures in south Jeddah, told Arab News.

According to construction experts, 10 percent of Jeddah's buildings in old suburban areas represent a threat to their residents and are in dire need of renovation. Tala Samrqandi, from Jeddah's Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), ascertained that there are many real estate companies that want to develop old districts in the city. However, Samrqandi believes the main problem is how to determine what compensation would convince owners and residents to move out.

According to the official, many owners reject offers from buyers because they argue the money offered to them is not enough to find some decent alternative housing. They also know their houses will be five times their current worth if these areas are gentrified.

Samrqandi claimed that this was the reason behind the inability of housing developers to get their projects off the ground. Jeddah's municipality recently revealed that there are over 1,000 sites where there is a threat of imminent collapse. In 2010, the municipality and Civil Defense in the Makkah region announced that about 2,500 buildings might cave in, in areas that were developed 50 years ago.

It is not just the passing of time that can destroy structures. Many old buildings in southern Jeddah were washed away in the massive floods in 2009, since their foundations were not as sturdy as the newer buildings.