In a move that reflects the wise leadership’s commitment to providing a decent life for citizens and achieving urban development goals, the Makkah Region witnessed an important event represented by the handover of new housing units to thousands of families benefiting from the project to remove and develop slums in Jeddah Governorate.
Details of residential unit handover
In accordance with the directives of His Royal Highness Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of Makkah Region and Chairman of the Main Committee for the Removal of Informal Settlements in Jeddah Governorate, the Deputy Governor, Dr. Mohammed bin Salem Al-Balahid, handed over the housing units to the beneficiaries. The handover ceremony took place at the Governorate headquarters in Jeddah, in the presence of the Deputy Minister of Municipalities and Housing for Housing Supply and Real Estate Development, Mr. Abdulrahman Al-Tawil. A total of 9,206 families were relocated in this phase, reflecting the significant efforts undertaken to ensure the stability of residents and provide them with suitable alternatives.
Context of the slum development project
This achievement comes within the broader context of the project to regulate and address informal settlements in Jeddah Governorate, one of the major projects to which the state is giving considerable attention within the framework of the Kingdom's Vision 2030. The project primarily aims to eliminate visual pollution, improve the urban landscape, and address the security and social risks posed by some of these neighborhoods due to the lack of proper urban planning and organization. Since the project's inception, specialized committees have been working to register residents and provide immediate housing and necessary support to families receiving social security benefits and those in similar circumstances, to ensure that no citizen is negatively impacted by the demolition process.
Social and developmental impact
This event is not merely about handing over the keys to housing units; it represents a qualitative leap in the quality of life for thousands of citizens. Moving from informal settlements, which often lacked integrated infrastructure and basic services, to modern, well-planned housing units directly contributes to strengthening family and social stability. This step also underscores the humanitarian dimension that accompanied the development process, as the state prioritized the citizen's well-being above all else, providing permanent and temporary housing solutions that guarantee a dignified life.
Jeddah's urban future
Relocating these families is an integral part of the comprehensive plan to transform Jeddah into a world-class, modern city offering all the elements of a high quality of life. The areas cleared of informal settlements are expected to provide land for development projects, public facilities, parks, and advanced infrastructure that will serve the city's residents and visitors, thus enhancing Jeddah's economic and tourism standing both regionally and internationally.
