A $20bn Saudi project will transform Jeddah, with history, heritage and culture at its core

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The planners behind the Jeddah Central project have drawn inspiration from the city’s rich heritage and distinct cultural identity while paying homage to its diversity and recognizing its future potential as a global destination. (Supplied)
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The planners behind the Jeddah Central project have drawn inspiration from the city’s rich heritage and distinct cultural identity while paying homage to its diversity and recognizing its future potential as a global destination. (Supplied)
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The planners behind the Jeddah Central project have drawn inspiration from the city’s rich heritage and distinct cultural identity while paying homage to its diversity and recognizing its future potential as a global destination. (Supplied)
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The planners behind the Jeddah Central project have drawn inspiration from the city’s rich heritage and distinct cultural identity while paying homage to its diversity and recognizing its future potential as a global destination. (Supplied)
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The planners behind the Jeddah Central project have drawn inspiration from the city’s rich heritage and distinct cultural identity while paying homage to its diversity and recognizing its future potential as a global destination. (Supplied)
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The planners behind the Jeddah Central project have drawn inspiration from the city’s rich heritage and distinct cultural identity while paying homage to its diversity and recognizing its future potential as a global destination. (Supplied)
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The planners behind the Jeddah Central project have drawn inspiration from the city’s rich heritage and distinct cultural identity while paying homage to its diversity and recognizing its future potential as a global destination. (Supplied)
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The planners behind the Jeddah Central project have drawn inspiration from the city’s rich heritage and distinct cultural identity while paying homage to its diversity and recognizing its future potential as a global destination. (Supplied)
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The planners behind the Jeddah Central project have drawn inspiration from the city’s rich heritage and distinct cultural identity while paying homage to its diversity and recognizing its future potential as a global destination. (Supplied)
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The planners behind the Jeddah Central project have drawn inspiration from the city’s rich heritage and distinct cultural identity while paying homage to its diversity and recognizing its future potential as a global destination. (Supplied)
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Updated 25 February 2022
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A $20bn Saudi project will transform Jeddah, with history, heritage and culture at its core

  • Jeddah Central development aims to revitalize about 5.7 million square meters of waterfront
  • Coastal city’s history stretches back about 3,000 years to a time when it was a small fishing village

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea port city of Jeddah will soon undergo a major face-lift, thanks to an eagerly awaited redevelopment plan. It aims to transform this coastal jewel into one of the world’s most livable cities by the end of the decade.

Unveiled in December by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the $20 billion Jeddah Central project will revamp and revitalize about 5.7 million square meters of picturesque waterfront, stretching north from Al-Salam Palace to the city’s water-treatment plant.

The development will include a state-of-the-art oceanarium, an opera house and a sports stadium, alongside more than 17,000 residential units, 2,700 hotel rooms, a marina, a beach and several green spaces covering about 40 percent of the project area.

Phase one will include the creation of one of the largest public beaches in Jeddah, with a pier, marina, park and playground alongside the promenade, all of which are scheduled for completion by 2027.

Phase two, due to be completed by 2030, encompasses a number of key facilities, including green spaces, innovative educational resources, a mosque that will combine both modern and traditional designs, a library, a coral bay, and a smart technology-equipped museum.

According to the project’s website, the third phase, beyond 2030, will further enhance the facilities with the addition of healthcare facilities designed to the highest international standards, while a district centered around innovation and culture will deliver world-class experiences.

Jeddah’s history stretches back about 3,000 years to a time when it was a small fishing village. As the centuries passed it grew into a major international port, part of a primary pilgrimage route, and a cultural and commercial destination in its own right.

In the first Islamic era, during the third caliphate that followed the death of the Prophet Muhammad, Uthman ibn Affan declared the city the gateway port to the holy city of Makkah. But it was not until the absorption by Ibn Saud (King Abdulaziz) of Hejaz in 1925 into the kingdom of Nejd to form Saudi Arabia that Jeddah got the special attention it deserved.




By its completion in 2030, the development will boast residential options and a vast offering of amenities. (Supplied)

The planners of the Jeddah Central project have drawn inspiration from the city’s rich history and distinct cultural identity, while paying homage to its modern-day diversity and recognizing its future potential as a global destination.

They say they are keen to preserve, renew or repurpose existing landmarks, including the city’s old water-treatment plant, a government hospital, and a soccer stadium that can hold up to 24,000 fans.

“The Tahlia (water-treatment plant) location is state property as is the other, and there has been zero land expropriation because the state-owned land deeds have been transferred to the Public Investment Fund. PIF owns our company, and we have the right to make use of the site that makes up 5.7 million square meters of state-owned land,” Ahmed Al-Sulaim, CEO of Jeddah Central Development Company, said in an interview with Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ekhbariyah news channel. 

JEDDAH CENTRAL IN NUMBERS

* 17,000 residential units

* 2,700 hotel rooms

* 10 tourism and entertainment projects

* 4 landmarks

The water-treatment plant will be converted into a museum showcasing the Kingdom’s industrial heritage, the history of its quest for fresh water through the years, and its relationship with the sea.

The oceanarium, considered one of the development’s key attractions, will be a celebration of the Red Sea and its natural environment, ecology and marine life. It aims to help establish Jeddah as a regional and global leader in the conservation of marine environments.

For Musaed Al-Ghamdi, a Saudi architect, extracting the greatest possible value from this unique development site is a top priority. He told Arab News that the area covered by the Jeddah Central project is one of the most sophisticated high-rise, government-owned plots of land in the city, worth more than $25 billion.

He said that the amenities and attractions expected to be built as part of the development will attract additional revenue to the area and help to improve the standard of living for residents.




Jeddah Central is a $20 billion redevelopment project that promises to transform the bustling metropolis’ waterfront. (Supplied)

With several ongoing development projects already underway in the city, Al-Ghamdi believes that one of the aims of the Jeddah Central project will be to provide housing to meet the needs of a new generation of young professionals and improve overall urban-living standards.

“Once you fix and adjust the urban planning of a city or an area, you’ll find it positively reflects on the people’s attitudes, perceptions of their surroundings, and in return you’ll find that you’re enhancing the well-being of a community,” he said.

Among the more than 200 firms that bid on the project, the final selection came down to a choice that included four major international developers. In the end it was Jeddah-based Hosam Alabdulkarim Architectural and Engineering Consultants that secured one of four contracts designated for the project.

The area under development will be divided into six districts with facilities geared toward both residents and tourists. Along the shore, the marina district will include open green spaces, entertainment venues, retail outlets and dining options overlooking the Red Sea.




The location has been touted by leading architects as one of the most sophisticated in Jeddah. (Supplied)

Further along the waterfront, the beach district will offer a sandy shoreline and promenades connecting visitors with the many planned entertainment, leisure and dining facilities. The sports district will include parks, courtyards and plazas to encourage residents to maintain healthy and active lifestyles.

A vibrant cultural and creativity district will serve to promote and support the arts, innovation and sustainability, while a wellness district will offer medical centers, clinics and research facilities.

Finally, the central district will serve as a hub for local and international tourists, allowing them to experience Jeddah’s cosmopolitan atmosphere.

“The city has been growing for ages but there’s always a critical issue with urban planning,” said Al-Ghamdi.

“If you improve public transport, provide easy access to facilities such as parks and services in the area, integrate green spaces into the plan, maintain upkeep of urban space and public spaces based on residents’ needs and requirements, then you will elevate the quality of life for the residents of the city.”


Diriyah Gate chief highlights city’s vision as a global blueprint for urban and social development

Updated 23 January 2025
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Diriyah Gate chief highlights city’s vision as a global blueprint for urban and social development

  • Talal Kansara said Davos presence focused on showcasing Diriyah’s role in urban development intertwined with authenticity and tradition

DAVOS: Diriyah Gate Development Authority’s Chief Strategic Management Officer Talal Kansara has outlined the city’s ambition to become a model for urban and social transformation, offering a new way of living while preserving Saudi Arabia’s cultural heritage.

Speaking to Arab News on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Kansara emphasized Diriyah’s role in showcasing urban development intertwined with authenticity and tradition.

“I think we have a unique story when it comes to urban transformation, to share with the world and (also) to learn from the rest of the world,” he said. “The area 20 years from now would be one of the best gathering places in the world, something where people can come and be immersed in a different experience, an experience that touches their souls, touches their heart, by providing them something that is authentic.”

Located on the northwestern outskirts of Riyadh, Diriyah has undergone significant redevelopment, carefully restoring its mud-brick structures that reflect the Najdi architectural style. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2010, Diriyah is seen as the birthplace of the Kingdom and a living example of the region’s architectural and cultural heritage.

Marking its WEF debut, Kansara said that Diriyah’s participation at Davos aims to showcase the project’s holistic approach, spanning tourism, hospitality, culture and real estate.

“People would see beyond Diriyah as one of the Kingdom’s giga project, they would see elements of Diriyah that that is part of its DNA,” Kansara said.

With a $50 billion development plan in motion, the project seeks to transform Diriyah into a global hub for history, culture and lifestyle while setting new standards for urban planning.

“We have a case that we want to present to the world when it comes to urban transformation,” Kansara said, “and we (want to) foster the dialog between us and people who have urban transformation and urban economy as one of their priorities.”

He added that Diriyah’s practices can serve as a guide for other cities to design spaces catering to human needs, including both locals and visitors.

“People need to walk, they need to interact, they need to socialize,” Kansara said, “also building an infrastructure and building cities where they are welcoming visitors. The infrastructure is not only meant for the (local) community, (but) also for the visitors, because you don’t want the visitors and the tourists to overrun the infrastructure.”

He said that the world is full of examples “where overtourism is somehow jeopardizing and decreasing the quality of the city, and you can see the community bothered from that in different places.”

Central to Saudi Arabia’s national tourism strategy, Diriyah is projected to attract 15 million visitors by 2030 and create more than 250,000 jobs. Kansara said that sustainability is integral to the development plan, ensuring the project meets the needs of a growing population and an influx of visitors.

“Sustainability is not an afterthought. Sustainability has been in the (project) DNA since the master plan,” he said.

Kansara also stressed the importance of preserving both the tangible and intangible elements of Saudi heritage, creating a living, organic space rather than a static museum.

“Diriyah is a place where people can live, walk, dine, play, have fun and learn. You would come in a place that’s not a theme park. This is more of an organic place. You’ll see people living as a visitor. You would interact with people who are living, you would interact with people who are studying, interact with people who are working. And that’s a great opportunity for the visitors to have a real touch, the real exposure to the history of the country of Saudi Arabia.”

Visitors to Diriyah’s pavilion at the Saudi House in Davos have been captivated by its unconventional real-estate approach.

“The thing that people admired and that captured their attention is that usually with a conventional real-estate project, you would see skyscrapers, you would see big buildings, you would see metal and glass. And when they came here, they say, ‘OK, we are not seeing this,’” Kansara said.

“We’re using mud bricks for the entire city, the way that we preserve our architectural language, the way we preserve different social and cultural practices and bring it back to life. So it’s not a museum where you see things, but that’s part of the past. No, this is really bringing things from the past and making something that people really engage with for now and in the future.”


Human resource ministry completes rollout of ‘Professional Verification’ service for expat workers in 160 countries

Updated 23 January 2025
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Human resource ministry completes rollout of ‘Professional Verification’ service for expat workers in 160 countries

  • Service aims to give expat workers reliable academic qualifications, experience and skills required by Saudi labor market 
  • Ministry of Human Resources has covered 1,007 professions as part of implementing ‘Professional Verification’ service

RIYADH: The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has completed the final phase of covering all targeted countries that export labor through the “Professional Verification” service within the “Professional Accreditation” program. This initiative aims to enhance the skill levels of the expatriate workforce. The target was achieved by covering 160 countries, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
This service is in line with Cabinet Resolution No. 195, which aims to ensure that expatriate workers possess reliable academic qualifications, as well as the practical experience and skills required by the Saudi labor market before entering the Kingdom.
The “Professional Verification” service focuses on the competence of workers in high-skill professions, as well as verifying the alignment of academic qualifications with the appropriate level and field of study. This is done in accordance with approved standards, such as the Saudi Unified Classification of Professions and the Saudi Unified Classification of Educational Levels and Specializations. The service is fully automated and is provided through a unified platform for professional verification, following simplified and fast procedures.

The Ministry of Human Resources has covered 1,007 professions as part of the implementation phases of the “Professional Verification” service, targeting all labor-exporting countries worldwide. The Ministry will continue to cover all high-skill professions, which fall within groups 1-3 according to the Saudi Unified Classification of Professions, including engineering and health professions, in coordination with the relevant government authorities.
It is worth noting the fact that the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development aims, through this service, to regulate the labor market, improve the quality of jobs and services within the labor market, and enhance productivity levels.


Saudi FM arrives in Lebanon

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan is greeted on arrival in Beirut by Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah BouHabib.
Updated 54 min 12 sec ago
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Saudi FM arrives in Lebanon

  • The foreign minister affirmed Kingdom’s continued support for Lebanon and its people

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan arrived in Lebanon on Thursday, Saudi Press Agency reported. 

Announced earlier this week at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the one-day trip marks the first high-ranking Saudi visit to Lebanon since 2015.

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Prince Faisal later met with President Joseph Aoun who was elected earlier this month. 

 “We are greatly confident in the ability of... the president and the prime minister to initiate reforms necessary to bolster Lebanon's security, stability and unity,” Prince Faisal said after the meeting. 

The foreign minister also affirmed the Kingdom’s continued support for Lebanon and its people, SPA reported. 

Aoun, whose election ended more than two years without a president, named former International Court of Justice presiding judge Nawaf Salam as prime minister-designate.
He has been tasked with forming a government capable of boosting Lebanon’s faltering economy and rebuilding areas devastated by war.


Saudi authorities warn of heavy rain, thunderstorms until Monday

Updated 23 January 2025
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Saudi authorities warn of heavy rain, thunderstorms until Monday

  • The Saudi capital region will experience moderate to heavy rain on Saturday and Sunday
  • It will rain on Thursday in southern and northwestern regions, and on Friday in northern and southern regions

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s meteorology authorities have forecast moderate to heavy rain and thunderstorms across the Kingdom with the inclement weather to continue until Monday.

The National Center for Meteorology said in its forecast: “There are chances of moderate to heavy rain in most areas of the Kingdom starting Thursday. Cloudy weather will continue until Monday.”

It will rain on Thursday in southern and northwestern regions, and on Friday in northern and southern regions, the NCM said.

The Saudi capital region will experience moderate to heavy rain on Saturday and Sunday, it added.

The General Directorate of Civil Defense also issued a weather warning for most regions of the Kingdom, with heavy thunderstorms expected to continue until Monday.

The Makkah and Riyadh regions may experience moderate to heavy rainfall, hailstorms and dust-stirring winds, it said.

Moderate to heavy rain is also forecast for Al-Baha, Asir, Jazan, the Eastern Region, Qassim, Hail, Al-Jouf and the Northern Borders.

Light to moderate rain may fall in Madinah. Najran and Tabuk may experience light rain showers, it added.

The Civil Defense urged all residents to take necessary precautions and avoid areas prone to flash flooding, such as valleys.

“During rain, stay away from low-lying areas, water pools and deep valleys,” it said.

It also called on the public to stay informed about the latest weather updates through Civil Defense channels as well as the NCM.

Meanwhile, in preparation for the upcoming holy month of Ramadan and Hajj seasons, the NCM launched training programs for employees of the Presidency for Religious Affairs at the Two Holy Mosques to enhance precautions against extreme weather phenomena.

 


Saudi artist brings themes of prayer and spirituality to life in Bahrain exhibition

Updated 23 January 2025
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Saudi artist brings themes of prayer and spirituality to life in Bahrain exhibition

  • Artist’s late father inspired the display
  • Photographs, digital art and videos portray scenes of prayer

RIYADH: An exhibition in Bahrain by Saudi artist Emtethal Al-Awami’s explored themes of memory, nostalgia, and the intersection of past and present.

“101 Hymns” featured photographs, digital art and videos portraying scenes of prayer, providing a rich and visually engaging experience.

Al-Awami, from Qatif, told Arab News the idea for the exhibition was inspired by her late father, whose actions and movements during prayer and tasbih she had observed throughout her life.

“The movement of his fingers between the beads of the prayer rosary and the sound of his voice reflected moments of serenity and reassurance, embodying feelings of forgiveness and harmony,” she said.

“The scene represents a deep connection with the self, offering a person the time to reflect and return to their true essence.”

The prayer rosary, a symbol of spirituality used across different religions and cultures for over 3,000 years, served as a tool to restore calm amidst the chaos and speed of everyday life, added Al-Awami.

“101 Hymns” sought to show how prayer and tasbih become a sanctuary in a world of pressures and challenges, opening the door to tranquility.

“By observing my father, I realized that these moments provide valuable lessons on patience and serenity, as the soft sound of the prayer beads soothes the soul and offers a deep sense of security,” she said.

After taking time to mourn and reflect following her father’s death around 18 months ago, the Saudi artist said she was determined to complete the project and present it in his honor.

“He was my inspiration and my first supporter, and this idea reflects my love and pride for his spiritual journey, which I aspire to share with others through this exhibit,” she told Arab News.

Al-Awami’s journey as an artist began at an early age with a deep fascination for art and its vast possibilities in various forms of expression. She studied art education at King Saud University in Riyadh, graduating in 1996.

“The initial spark of my artistic journey can be traced back to a specific moment of introspection as I observed the world around me — seeing the beauty in everyday life and realizing the power of visual storytelling,” she said.

She added she was inspired to commit to the pursuit of art as a form of synthesis between individual experiences and broader societal themes.

During her journey to becoming a professional artist, Al-Awami experimented with different styles and mediums which allowed her to progress and refine her voice, establishing her own artistic identity.

“I have learned to weave cultural narratives into my work, and my experiments with different styles and ideas enrich my artistic practice, allowing me to tell diverse stories through my art,” she explained.

As a Saudi artist, Al-Awami often highlights cultural narratives shaped by her own experiences. Arabian art is distinguished by its unique disposition, rooted in a rich history of spiritual, cultural and social chronicles, she said: “It embodies a fusion of traditional techniques with contemporary themes, continually reflecting the dynamic nature of Arab identity, resilience, and creativity across generations.”

Al-Awami emphasized the significant development the artistic community has seen in the Arab world, especially in Saudi Arabia.

Marked by increased recognition of contemporary artists and openness to diverse forms of expression, the Kingdom’s art scene is strongly supported by the government under the Ministry of Culture.

“The emergence of new platforms for showcasing art has revitalized the art scene, fostering collaborations that transcend geographical boundaries,” Al-Awami said.

“As a Saudi woman and artist, I feel a deep sense of responsibility to authentically represent my community. This journey requires overcoming challenges, yet it is rewarding to shed light on the arts and demonstrate that creativity and expression are equally important (as STEM) in enriching society.”