Citizens and residents here are complaining that there many abandoned building projects in their neighborhoods attracting criminals, and affecting the environment and health of local people.

Several residents living around these incomplete buildings said they have to deal with construction material such as iron, cement and soil occupying large spaces in their streets, and making it difficult to park their cars.

“My home is in front of an abandoned building project. This building attracts rats and various kinds of insects. We also do not know what is going on there. Abandoned buildings can provide a refuge for criminals,” Saleem Al-Sayiad, a Syrian resident in Al-Safa district, told Arab News.

“Abandoned construction projects should be supervised by government bodies. I have warned my children to stay far away from these buildings. I think abandoned buildings also provide a refuge for ghosts and demons,” said Mohammed Haj, a Sudanese resident in Jeddah.

Abdullah Radwan, chairman of the contractors’ committee at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, told Arab News that walls or partitions must surround these sites. “The Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs has to ensure that the owners of these abandoned projects close them up by erecting walls.”

“Building materials that are piled up in front of these projects are an eyesore. The Jeddah municipality issues a construction license for three years but an owner can renew the license,” Radwan said.

According to reports in local media, the municipality has stated that it is possible to renew licenses, but often difficult to do so because it wants owners to complete their projects in three years.

However, the municipality has made it mandatory for construction companies to remove building material that encroach on streets and roads, the reports stated.

Abandoned buildings also attract thieves who are after electricity devices, iron and wood. Jeddah policemen are now patrolling these sites because of this criminal activity, according to a local newspaper.

There was a proliferation of abandoned construction projects in 2009 across Saudi cities because of the financial crisis, according to reports.

“When an owner has no money to complete his building project, he can postpone it. However, abandoning a project for a long time can create environmental and health problems,” said Loai Badran, an engineer who works for a construction company.