Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman announced on Tuesday that provision of suitable housing and means for a decent living for citizens is his first priority and a matter of his personal attention. "Everybody should realize the great care and concern being given by the state to this sector and its allocation of huge budget for this purpose," the King said while drawing attention to the regulations and decisions taken recently in this regard, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The King made these remarks during an audience with Minister of Housing Majed Al-Huqail at Al-Yamama Palace in Riyadh. Senior officials of the ministry as well as those concerned with housing from the government and private sectors also attended the reception. King Salman noted that the State has encouraged investments in the housing sector and enhanced the role of the private sector to be a partner in the government's efforts to achieve this objective. "The government has also made efforts to achieve a balance between supply and demand as well as urge landlords to invest in the sector so as to meet the growing need for housing." Commending the efforts being exerted by the ministry in this respect, the King stressed that the ministry and its partners should work hard to achieve the desired objectives and plans for the provision of suitable housing for the citizens. King Salman noted that the Kingdom is marching on right track of growth and development, firmly adhering to and maintaining true values of religion. "It would continue this march by consistent endeavors toward achieving comprehensive and balanced development of all regions of the Kingdom," he said. Speaking on the occasion, Al-Huqail described housing as one of the most important sectors. "We are working hard, with the honor of (the King's) trust on us, to serve the nation and citizens so as to achieve more progress and development by tapping our expertise in formulating a comprehensive vision for housing." While highlighting the importance of private sector's participation in the development of housing, he said that the ministry has been working on the partnership project with the private sector, which aims to contribute to building more housing units. The ministry has signed, in this context, a number of partnership agreements with a range of qualified real estate development companies in the Kingdom and abroad to build 180,000 residential units in all regions during a short period of time at affordable prices. "We are on the verge of signing several other agreements with not only local developers but also developers from countries, which have successful experiments in housing," Al-Huqail said, adding that the recent law to impose tax on vacant urban land is a big boost to housing sector.
