How Jeddah redevelopment project aims to clean up urban environment, improve quality of life

1 / 3
Demolition work is under way in Jeddah's 26 undeveloped districts as part of the city's major redevelopment. (Supplied)
2 / 3
3 / 3
The socially corrosive effects of criminality in the slums has left authorities with little choice but to redevelop them from scratch. (Supplied)
Short Url
Updated 14 April 2022
Follow

How Jeddah redevelopment project aims to clean up urban environment, improve quality of life

  • Jeddah’s population grew rapidly during Saudi Arabia’s oil boom, leading to the spread of informal settlements
  • Municipal authorities have evaluated 64 districts across the city for restoration, modification, or demolition

JEDDAH: Deprived neighborhoods in Saudi Arabia’s coastal city of Jeddah are undergoing major redevelopment after decades of relentless urbanization led to a host of social, economic, and environmental issues.

Municipal authorities are clearing districts and squatter settlements where planners say substandard infrastructure, criminality, and disease are blighting the lives of roughly half a million people.

Saudi cities have historically benefited from the close attention and generous investment of the central government, evident in the provision of a well-maintained physical infrastructure and impressive skylines.

But investment has had to keep pace with a rapidly growing urban population. According to the Kingdom’s Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, approximately 82.1 percent of the Kingdom’s total population now lives in urban areas.

This trend is part of a global phenomenon, driven by a host of economic and environmental factors. According to UN-Habitat, around 60 percent of the global population will live in cities by the year 2030.

Current trends indicate that an additional 3 billion people will be living in cities by 2050, increasing the urban share of the world’s population to two-thirds. Some 90 percent of this urban growth is likely to occur in low- and middle-income countries.

In the context of cities like Jeddah, this has meant the rapid growth of densely populated and poorly planned urban districts that have swamped local infrastructure. In the words of Saleh Al-Turki, mayor of Jeddah since 2018: “Mistakes were made, ignored, and corruption occurred.”

According to an October 2017 paper published by Dr. Hisham Mortada, a professor of architecture at the College of Environmental Design at King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, the city’s rapid population growth began in the 1970s during the Kingdom’s oil boom.




While Jeddah's substandard housing in some communities have provided an affordable starting point for many new arrivals, they are also seen as a breeding ground for criminality. (Supplied)

The paper, titled “Analytical conception of slums of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia,” traces the growth of the city’s slums to the demolition of the old city walls in 1947, which led to the creation of Al-Suhaifa, Al-Hindawiya, and Al-Sabeel.

“The districts later became an extension of old Jeddah and slums since they were built with poor construction materials and techniques and without planning,” the report said.

Other reasons given for the spread of Jeddah’s slums include an absence of state funding, a significant increase in property prices against falling incomes, and mass immigration, which by 1978 caused the city’s population to balloon to 1 million people — 53 percent of whom were foreign migrants.

Four decades later, with Jeddah’s population swelling to around 4 million, the old slum districts that had grown around the south and center of the city have expanded northwards.

Determined to address the problem, the municipality announced plans late last year to demolish 64 districts across the city, including several associated with high crime rates and where illegal migrants had come to reside in densely packed communities.




Jeddah's Al-Kandarah district is one of the 26 districts considered undeveloped. (Supplied)

To date, the Jeddah Governorate’s Undeveloped Neighborhoods Committee has begun demolition work in 26 districts covering an area of 18.5 million square meters.

Eight of these districts are located within the lands of the King Abdulaziz Endowment for Al-Ain Al-Aziziyah, a charitable project established in 1948 to transport water to the city.

Municipal officials say the demolition work is due for completion by mid-November.

“The conditions in these areas are unfavorable,” Jeddah mayor Al-Turki told Rotana Khalijiya’s “Al-Soora” TV host Abdullah Al-Mudaifer in February. “It lacks security, there are no blueprints, its infrastructure is nearly non-existent, it is a den of crime. These are all facts.”

Those residents who hold the title deeds to their properties are being provided with free housing and compensation, Al-Turki said. To date, more than 550 families have been resettled, with 4,781 housing units to be allocated by the end of the year.

One of the municipality’s prime motivations for clearing these districts is the poor road access and the fire risk posed by the density of buildings.




While Jeddah's substandard housing in some communities have provided an affordable starting point for many new arrivals, they are also seen as a breeding ground for criminality. (Supplied)

“Given the tight spaces, it is difficult for vehicles to enter, never mind fire trucks, and today, the main concern to civil defense in Jeddah is the slums,” said Al-Turki. “If any fire erupts, it’s difficult to get through.”

Another motivation was the desire to clamp down on criminal activities. “The slums were a haven for human trafficking, a source of crime, and a place for thefts,” Maj. Gen. Saleh Al-Jabri, director of Makkah Region Police, said in the same TV interview.

“We’ve seized large quantities of drugs in a very short time. More than 218 kilograms was seized in these neighborhoods. These neighborhoods became central selling points for drug dealers. In some areas, they (are) publicly sold on these streets.”

Al-Jabri said drug dealers and human trafficking syndicates have long operated under the radar within the labyrinth of ramshackle neighborhoods. Crystal meth, a highly addictive drug known locally as Al-Shbo, is the most common narcotic sold in the slums.

In one recent bust, Al-Jabri said authorities were able to seize SR60 million ($15.9 million) in cash and more than 100 kilograms in gold worth SR50 million ($13.3 million) ready to be smuggled out of the Kingdom.




Jeddah's old slum districts have expanded northwards, such as in Al-Ammariyah, as the population swelled to around 4 million these past years. (Supplied) 

Slums are extremely damaging to natural ecosystems and greatly increase the transmissibility of airborne, waterborne, and vector-borne diseases. Today, dengue fever, a prevalent vector-borne illness in Jeddah, costs the municipality SR150 million ($40 million) annually.

The issue was further highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which necessitated social distancing and self-isolation for those infected — measures that are near impossible to implement in overcrowded settlements.

Despite the clear benefits, slum clearance does carry negative social consequences. Thousands of people across several generations have long called these informal settlements home, establishing close-knit social networks with their neighbors that are not easily replaced.

And although housing in these communities is considered substandard, it is also viewed as an affordable starting point for many new arrivals in the Kingdom and those migrating from the countryside.

“Humans go through development phases just like cities,” Maha Al-Qattan, a Saudi sociologist, told Arab News.

“The closeness and ties between the people living within the slums are no different. People change, and it’s not like it was before when they would visit each other or call on one another. Today these slums are a convenience more so than a living place.”

Nevertheless, the socially corrosive effects of criminality in the slums has left authorities with little choice but to redevelop them from scratch. “They harbor dangers to society within the walls and outside,” Al-Qattan said.




With development work in full swing, Jeddah's numerous slum areas — such as Al-Jabeel — are expected to be transformed soon into vibrant economic and cultural hubs. (Supplied)

“Crimes will never cease, but it is essential to curb them by extracting the cancer that imposes pressure on communities and governments.

“These are ticking time bombs. The longer you keep them, the more difficult it will be to achieve the standards to upgrade the quality of life in cities.”

The decision to clear these areas is motivated by the desire to improve overall quality of life in the Kingdom’s cities, transforming them into vibrant economic and cultural hubs that are inviting to investors and tourists. It is also motivated by environmental concerns and the push towards greater sustainability.   

The first studies on the condition of slums and their effect on the city’s development began in 1972, but plans to deal with them were repeatedly put off in favor of less disruptive initiatives to improve existing infrastructure, according to Al-Turki.   

Now, thanks to the Saudi government’s commitment to raising overall quality of life in the Kingdom, under the umbrella of its economic and social reform agenda Vision 2030, urban redevelopment is back on track and far more ambitious in scope.   

“Vision 2030 placed pressure on the Ministry of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing to elevate the quality of life, increase green spaces,” said Al-Turki.   

“A green Riyadh, a green Jeddah, a green Middle East. All this would not happen in a city with weak infrastructure.”


Saudi agency KSrelief delivers food, hygiene kits in Syria

The aid is a part of KSrelief’s projects to support earthquake-affected people in northern Syria. (SPA)
Updated 8 sec ago
Follow

Saudi agency KSrelief delivers food, hygiene kits in Syria

  • The aid is a part of KSrelief’s projects to support earthquake-affected people in northern Syria

RIYADH: The Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief has distributed food and hygiene kits to thousands of vulnerable people across Syria, the Saudi Press Agency reported late Thursday.

The agency’s volunteers delivered 750 food parcels and 750 hygiene kits in Al-Hasakah, Syria, benefiting 4,500 people.

The aid is a part of KSrelief’s projects to support earthquake-affected people in northern Syria. (SPA)

Meanwhile 745 Syrian families, comprising 2,652 people, in Al-Dana, Idlib governorate, received food and hygiene kits.

The aid is a part of KSrelief’s projects to support earthquake-affected people in northern Syria.


How Google aims to bridge the AI skills gap in Saudi Arabia and the wider region

Updated 08 November 2024
Follow

How Google aims to bridge the AI skills gap in Saudi Arabia and the wider region

  • Backed by local partners, Google will boost AI upskilling for women, youth, migrants, and rural communities
  • The AI Opportunity Initiative aims to equip half a million people across the MENA region with AI skills

DUBAI: As artificial intelligence rapidly reshapes industries, job roles and skill requirements, the Middle East and North Africa region is actively embracing advanced technologies and collaborating with tech giants to bridge the skills gap in an evolving labor market.

One such collaboration is with Google’s newly launched AI Opportunity Initiative, which offers training and education opportunities to make AI technologies more accessible and inclusive across the region.

By collaborating with local organizations, the AI Opportunity Initiative seeks to “train half a million people in the next two years,” Anthony Nakache, managing director of Google MENA, told an audience at the recent AI Connect MENA event at Dubai’s Etihad Museum.

To achieve this, Google “will give a grant of $15 million to fund local organizations,” Nakache said.

Najeeb Jarrar, regional director of marketing at Google MENA, told Arab News: “We are very excited about this AI Opportunity Initiative, especially since we are seeing the Saudi community is fully embracing AI both on the consumer side and on the developer and resource side.

“This is an initiative that we have launched globally and we now are bringing to the region. One of the aims of this initiative is how we are leveling the playing field for AI and AI education and skilling across the entire region,” he added, noting that students will learn to use AI more productively, including skills such as prompt engineering.

To bridge the digital divide in the labor market, Google’s AI Opportunity Initiative aims to upskill underserved workers in AI by offering tailored training materials in Arabic, in partnership with the non-profit Manarat, online course provider Coursera, and other organizations.

Google’s largest AI project in the region, the AI Opportunity Initiative will focus on four key areas: AI skills development, research, products, and infrastructure.

DID YOUKNOW?

• The new AI Opportunity Initiative is Google’s largest AI project in the region.

• It aims to equip 500,000 people in the MENA region with AI skills within two years.

• Google is granting $15 million to local organizations between 2024 and 2027.

• The Saudi government is reportedly creating a $40 billion fund to invest in AI.

“We also worked with local NGOs and local players in the market to ensure that we are also reaching out to different partners,” Jarrar said.

Google.org, Google’s philanthropic arm, has announced plans to contribute $15 million between this year and the end of 2027, providing funding to organizations across the region to ensure accessibility to AI opportunities.

The AI Opportunity Initiative also aims to equip 500,000 people in the MENA region with AI skills in the first two years. This includes students, academics, developers, entrepreneurs and underrepresented groups.

Speaking about the issue of accessibility, Jarrar said: “We wanted to ensure first that this local initiative does not feel like an initiative that is hard to get for the average user.”

Google’s largest AI project in the region, the AI Opportunity Initiative will focus on AI skills development, research, products, and infrastructure. (Supplied)

He pointed out that both language and local partners, such as Injaz and Raspberry Pi Foundation, play a major role in improving accessibility.

“The content is all in Arabic, we have local examples that we are actually able to showcase,” he said. “We are partnering with local partners that know the market and the community very well and are able to reach more people that are beyond what we can initially reach to.”

The AI Opportunity Initiative enables Google to expand the Maharat min Google program, which targets high school and university students, by introducing a new AI curriculum in Arabic.

As part of its mission to support underserved communities, Google.org is funding Village Capital, a non-profit that supports entrepreneurs tackling environmental, social and economic challenges.

Village Capital will equip business support organizations to offer AI upskilling opportunities to underserved workers. 

The program targets women, youth, migrants and rural communities across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Jordan, Palestine, Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Lebanon, Bahrain and Iraq. 

The Raspberry Pi Foundation will use grant funding from Google.org to train teachers in AI literacy, equipping students aged 11-14 in the region with AI safety skills to better understand and navigate the challenges of AI technologies.

Opinion

This section contains relevant reference points, placed in (Opinion field)

Speaking at the Google AI Connect Event, Ruth Porat, president and chief investment officer for Alphabet and Google, said: “AI is estimated to contribute $320 billion in economic growth for the Middle East by 2030.

“Google is working to ensure that people and communities throughout the region have the skills needed to capture the upside of this emerging technology.” 

She added: “Our local non-profit and university partners will help bring this program to people and communities throughout the region, ensuring that everyone can benefit from the opportunities that AI can deliver.”

 Ruth Porat, president and chief investment officer for Alphabet and Google, speaking at the Google AI Connect event. (Photo courtesy of Google)

Since 2005, Google has invested more than $400 million in academic research globally.

The tech giant also announced during its Dubai event the launch of new Arabic AI products, including Gemini Live in Arabic, Gemini for Teens, Imagen3, and Gems on Gemini in Arabic. 

“For the previous year, we have worked hard with partners, with experts globally and from the region, to understand what are the constraints that we need to implement to make this product safer for teens, teens aged 13 to 18,” Jarrar said.

“We worked tirelessly to make sure we have the right guardrails to ensure that we had the right controls and the proper Q and A and testing, and today we are happy to say that Gemini for Teens is available for users and teens here in the region.”

These efforts are expected to support Saudi Arabia’s ambition to become an AI leader, ensuring its population stays aligned with the latest developments in the labor market.

A September report by the Saudi Authority for Data and Artificial Intelligence showed that 75 percent of the Saudi population is familiar with the concept of AI, and 64 percent are aware of its applications.
 

 


Saudi Arabia’s recreational spaces ready for holiday season

Updated 08 November 2024
Follow

Saudi Arabia’s recreational spaces ready for holiday season

AL-BAHA: Saudi authorities have announced extensive preparations of public recreational facilities ahead of the school holiday season.

The Al-Baha municipality has readied 142 parks and recreational areas, along with municipal squares, public spaces and streets, to welcome visitors and tourists.

According to regional secretary, Ali bin Mohammed Al-Sawat, these facilities span more than 4,188,559.98 million square meters and feature amenities including children’s playgrounds, green spaces, shade structures, lighting, sidewalks, seating areas and parking, and facilities for activities such as walking and cycling.

The Al-Barouqi Tourist Farm in Al-Baha region features agricultural terraces, famous trees and old wells. (SPA)

Meanwhile, the Eastern Region Municipality has completed the preparation of 979 parks and public squares, 18 public recreational parks, 14 waterfront areas and 213 walking tracks.

The facilities are timely as moderate weather conditions and school breaks attract more outdoor activity.

The municipality emphasized its commitment to regular maintenance of these facilities, considering them vital breathing spaces for citizens and residents.
 

Al-Nakheel Park Tabuk region's Haql governorate is more than just a recreational destination. It is a place where residents and visitors can uncover stories of the past, shared by their ancestors. (SPA)

 


Solo dining an emerging trend challenging Saudi traditional culture

Updated 08 November 2024
Follow

Solo dining an emerging trend challenging Saudi traditional culture

  • Saudi Arabia’s younger generation are subtly changing eating trends, moving from a full family table to a single seat 

RIYADH: In Saudi Arabia, dining out has long been a social ritual, an experience shared with family and friends over lavish meals, full of conversation and camaraderie. 

However, a subtle yet noticeable shift is taking place as more Saudis, especially the younger generation, are choosing to dine alone, seeking moments of solitude amid the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Once considered a rare sight, solo diners are now becoming more common in cafes, restaurants and eateries across the Kingdom. For some, it is a matter of convenience, while for others it is a form of self-care, a way to recharge and reconnect with themselves. 

This emerging trend challenges traditional Saudi dining culture, creating new opportunities for restaurants and altering societal perceptions.

For Zain Al-Mansour, solo dining is more than just an alternative to dining with others, it is an experience that he actively cherishes. “I much prefer it over dining with someone,” he says. “I seek it out and make a day out of it for myself. It’s relaxing, and it charges my energy.” 

Solo dining has become Al-Mansour’s way to unwind, offering him a chance to indulge in his favorite foods without the distraction of company.

He acknowledges that not everyone feels comfortable dining alone, particularly in a culture where social gatherings are so deeply ingrained. 

“Plenty of people would not go out unless it’s with someone else,” Al-Mansour said. “I think everyone should at least try solo dining once and truly treat themselves. Bring a book if you’re worried about boredom, and don’t think twice about what people might think. What matters is that you’re happy.”

Al-Mansour sees solo dining as a form of empowerment, encouraging others to overcome social anxieties and embrace the experience. “It pushes you to talk, at least to the workers, which helps improve social skills.”

In Saudi culture, dining has traditionally been a collective activity, with meals often serving as the focal point of family and social gatherings. 

For Bashayer Al-Bloushi, dining alone offered a refreshing change from this norm. “What inspired me to start dining alone was my desire to explore a new experience that offers me space to reflect and relax away from the hustle of daily life,” she said.

Dining alone allows her to savor the ambiance and immerse herself in the restaurant environment without the usual pressure of conversation. 

This experience of dining independently has become a cherished form of personal time for Al-Bloushi, allowing her to enjoy moments of solitude. She sees it as an act of self-care and independence, a rare opportunity to connect with oneself.

Al-Bloushi also believes that Saudi restaurants could do more to support this trend. “They could designate cozy, quiet spaces for individual diners and offer meals suitable for one person,” she said. By creating a welcoming and informal atmosphere, restaurants could encourage more people to dine solo without feeling out of place.

For Mira Fahad, solo dining started as a necessity due to her flexible remote job schedule. “As a morning person, I always wanted to go out during the day but couldn’t find anyone available in the mornings,” she said. Over time, solo dining became a cherished ritual. “It’s one of those ‘I need to do it at least once a month’ things, whether in the mornings or nights.”

She finds the experience peaceful and liberating. “You can choose the time and place to your liking, people-watch, read a book, plan your week, or just savor your meal in peace.” However, she admits that solo dining can lose its charm if overdone, emphasizing the importance of balance.

For some solo diners, cultural perceptions remain a challenge. Linah Al-Ahmadi has been dining alone since 2016 and considers it a normal part of her lifestyle. “I didn’t start this habit recently; I’ve been solo dining since I was a teenager,” she said. While she embraces the experience, she is aware of the societal views that make solo dining an unusual choice in Saudi Arabia. “We are a collective society, and we tend to do things within a circle. As a society, we have this notion that it’s abnormal to do things alone.”

Al-Ahmadi describes dining alone in a culture that values group activities as being “the stranger in the middle of the diner.” Despite this, she remains committed to her choice, valuing the independence and freedom it provides. For her, solo dining is not about isolation but rather about enjoying personal time without depending on others to accompany her.

The growing interest in solo dining presents an opportunity for Saudi restaurants to adapt and cater to individual diners. Al-Ahmadi points out that making reservations for one can be difficult, as many restaurants and apps only accept bookings for groups. 

Additionally, solo diners are often directed to bar seating or shared tables, which may not suit everyone’s preference for privacy.

“I struggle a lot with reservations,” Al-Ahmadi said. “Sometimes, I go out alone with the intention of not socializing, but being at a bar feels too intimate.” She advocates for solo diners to be given the choice of regular tables, creating a more inclusive environment for those who want to enjoy a meal without the company of others.

Mira Fahad offers additional suggestions, including creating solo dining tables in corners or quieter spots and offering digital menus for easy ordering. “Maybe provide small, single-portion meals and digital entertainment options for solo diners,” she said, adding that these touches could make the solo dining experience even more enjoyable.

As more Saudis explore the joys of solo dining, the trend reflects a broader shift in societal norms and individual lifestyles. Young people are carving out spaces for self-reflection and independence, challenging traditional perceptions about social activities. The popularity of solo dining represents a growing acceptance of self-care and personal freedom in Saudi Arabia, where dining alone is no longer seen as a solitary act but rather as a celebration of individuality.

Solo dining is more than just a meal, it is an experience that allows you to connect with yourself in a way that is both empowering and refreshing.
 


Qassim governor receives British ambassador to Riyadh

Updated 08 November 2024
Follow

Qassim governor receives British ambassador to Riyadh

BURAIDAH: Qassim Gov. Prince Faisal bin Mishaal received the British Ambassador to the Kingdom, Neil Crompton, on Thursday during a visit to the region.
They held cordial talks in their meeting.