Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal asserted Sunday that development plans for Makkah’s Jabal Al-Sharashef will go on whether businessmen are involved or not.

Prince Khaled’s statement came during an induction event in Makkah for the Jabal Al-Sharashef or Mount Sharashef development project.

Jabal Al-Sharashef takes its name from the sheets and pieces of cloth hanging over small buildings on the mountain not far from the Grand Mosque. The mountain is home to those who have come to the Kingdom seeking refuge from war-torn countries.

In his address to the businessmen, the governor said that they should not be concerned about financial losses incurred from investing in this project because Allah has guaranteed that the inhabitants of Makkah will be protected from starvation and threat of any kind.

Prince Khaled opened a discussion on the massive project and reiterated his pledge that he would meet with businessmen who were willing to take part in the company that will be created to execute the project.

The governor said that the project, being only 500 meters away from the Grand Mosque, would be great for any investment.

“The creation of a company for the project requires participation of those Saudi businessmen who are willing to take part out of faith and patriotism. It is neither an order nor a request but an offer. Those who accept will have the privilege of having their missions facilitated and their profits will be guaranteed, by Allah’s will,” Prince Khaled said.

He said the Governor’s Office would spare no effort to make the project a success. “I promise you on behalf of Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs Prince Mansour bin Miteb that his ministry and the holy city’s municipality will overcome any obstacles in this mission,” he said while answering a question about administrative procedures concerning the company and the project.

He said that Jeddah’s new development projects of unplanned areas, such as the Ghulail area project, are not private sector projects.

The governor also acknowledged that Jeddah’s Al-Ruwais development project had not met expectations and attributed it to the fact that the project was not part of the city’s unplanned areas development scheme. It had been approved for another purpose. There was a conflict between the goals of that project and the goals of the unplanned areas development plan, he said.