The Jeddah Municipality announced the launch of a comprehensive development project for Abhur Square, popularly known as "Camel Square ," located in the southern Abhur district. This strategic project aims to improve traffic flow and enhance safety standards at one of the city's most vital intersections, and is part of the ambitious initiatives of the Quality of Life Program, a key pillar of Saudi Vision 2030 .
Historical background and rapid urban growth
As the gateway to the Two Holy Mosques and a major economic and tourist hub, Jeddah has witnessed tremendous population and urban growth over the past decades. This rapid expansion, particularly in northern areas like Abhur, has placed significant strain on road infrastructure, leading to traffic congestion and bottlenecks on key thoroughfares. The Camel Roundabout, which connects vital roads such as King Abdul Aziz Road and the Corniche, is a focal point directly impacted by this growth, making its development a pressing necessity to improve the quality of life for residents and visitors.
Project objectives and expected impact
The municipality explained that the project is part of a comprehensive plan to implement innovative traffic solutions to address congestion in Jeddah. The work includes applying advanced engineering solutions and new operational arrangements to improve intersection performance, clarify traffic lanes, and reduce points of merging between vehicles. The project is expected to contribute to a significant improvement in traffic flow on the roads connected to the roundabout, namely: King Abdul Aziz Road, Corniche Road, Prince Talal bin Mansour Road, and Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Road. This improvement will not only reduce daily travel times but will also extend to raising the overall level of traffic services, thus enhancing the commuting experience and making it safer and more comfortable for road users.
Preserving identity: The camel sculpture as a symbol of the place
In a move that underscores the balance between development and the preservation of urban heritage, the Jeddah Municipality has confirmed that the improvement works will take into account the preservation of the site's symbolic components. The famous camel sculpture will be left in its place, as it is one of Jeddah's most prominent artistic landmarks and a fundamental element of the city's identity and collective memory. This sculpture, created by the artist Rabie Al-Akhras in 1997, is a masterpiece consisting of two camels: the larger one is 21 meters tall and weighs 10 tons, while the smaller one is 15 meters tall and weighs 7 tons. Its preservation ensures that development does not erase the area's history, but rather builds upon it for a better future.
The strategic importance of the city of Jeddah
These development projects aim to enhance Jeddah's position as a global city. As a leading tourist and commercial destination and a vital logistics hub on the Red Sea coast, improving its infrastructure is crucial for supporting economic growth and attracting investment. Providing an efficient and safe road network not only serves the city's residents but also facilitates the movement of visitors, tourists, pilgrims, and Umrah performers, thus supporting vital sectors and enhancing Jeddah's regional and international competitiveness, in line with the goals of Vision 2030 to build prosperous and sustainable cities.
