“Saudis are no longer required to live in the Third Word,” says the caption of a photo showing ramshackle houses on the website of the Ruwais International Company for Real Estate Development. The houses shown in the photo are located in Ruwais District, which was originally a village on the outskirts of Jeddah some 30 years ago. The company website does not mention the historical background of the area and describes it as one of Jeddah's most rundown areas suffering from many social, environmental and financial problems. Property owners and residents of the area, however, say that the problems the company mentions on its website are the results of Jeddah Mayoralty's shortcomings. “In the developed world, old areas are always preserved and taken care of no matter how narrow their streets and avenues are. In Paris, for instance, the oldest areas are the most beautiful ones. They did not demolish any buildings there, but we are trying to erase the history of one of Jeddah's important areas,” said Ra'ad Abdul Aziz, a property owner in Ruwais. “The history of the people residing in Ruwais goes back more than 300 years. All of the families there are interrelated. The claims that this neighborhood is full of Iqama violators are false. There are more than 10 tribes still residing here,” said Abdul Aziz. He urged the authorities to make efforts to preserve the past of Jeddah in Balad, Ruwais and Khuzam rather than to demolish old buildings and banish the people. The Jeddah Development Company, the strategic partner in Ruwais development, said on its website which is the only source of information for the Saudi Gazette, that the compensation procedure starts by evaluating all properties required for the project by the real estate compensation committee. This committee comprises many private and public sectors, ministries of justice, finance, Jeddah Mayoralty, Jeddah Governorate, two experts and a representative from the investor. Property owners, according to the company, can choose either to be partners in the project or to receive compensation or alternative houses.There is also a social committee to look after the social aspects. But its programs have not been announced yet, says the website. Ahmed Abdul Aziz, another resident, is fed up with the local media and accuses it of misguiding society. “They are not reporting our complaints.They are rather publishing false information that the area is a hideout for criminals,” Ahmed said. “We are proud of our society. Our wealthy neighbors are taking care of the poor ones. There are families which cannot afford two meals a day but their neighbors are always there for them. They cannot survive if they are deported from the city,” he said. “The development company says that a charity fund can help ease the suffering of these poor residents. But the company does not realize that we have dignity; we don't want to line up in front of charity societies,” he added. Abdullah Al-Maliki, another owner, said that when he inquired about the amount of compensation, he was told that he had to first hand over his documents and then the compensation amount would be given to him in a sealed file. “If we don't accept the compensation amount, we have to file a complaint to the grievances court,” Al
