JEDDAH — The Jeddah Mayoralty has started razing Andalus Marina in the southern Obhur Corniche in order to convert it into a public park and recreational outlet for residents and visitors of the Jeddah governorate. Andalus Marina is one of the most favorite beach tourist destinations in Jeddah. The removal of the marina is line with the orders of the highest authorities to turn investment sites of mayoralties and municipalities into public recreational outlets. Sources told Okaz/Saudi Gazette that the razing work began following the failure of the investor of the project in complying with the terms of the contract, and this necessitated enforcement of punitive measures including withdrawing the project license and proceeding with the removal work. The Obhur Municipality had recently removed a wall of the land spreading over an estimated area of 2.2 million square meters belonging to a businessman following the revocation of the title deed by the Saudi Supreme Court. The municipality has completed the eviction and removal process after serving the warning notice. The land will be opened for the public to benefit from enjoying the sea after removing the infringements. The municipality also removed walls constructed in violation of the regulations in the Obhur area, Blue Beach Marina, and Al-Salam Marina. The mayoralty's operations to recover the encroached state property from the aggressors included ending encroachments on government land with an area covering one million square meters in Dhahban. A transport company was tasked with monitoring municipal encroachments and violations and that necessitated taking legal measures against the violators. It is also noteworthy that the Jeddah Mayoralty had recovered more than two million square meters of government land in Al-Salihiya neighborhood, after monitoring violations that included the construction of fences. The mayoralty reiterated that it would continue efforts of preventing and removing any old or recent violations that would block the access of the public to the beaches and penal measures will be taken against all types of infringements. The Jeddah Mayoralty confirmed to Okaz/Saudi Gazette earlier about its refusal to extend period of contracts of leasing commercial and entertainment projects on the waterfront, stating that it would neither renew any expired contracts nor allow the renewal of contracts of tourist and vital sites directly adjacent to the sea. The mayoralty announced that these facilities would be opened to the public and picnickers. These areas will be converted into green spaces and open recreational sites, after ending monopoly and long-term investment. The mayoralty had previously evicted the Green Island Park, which was converted into beach playgrounds on the new waterfront, and removed Al-Salam Marina in Obhur, and turned it into an open beach. It also transformed Dhahban Park into a public park, and opened it after redeveloping the project following the expiry of investment contracts.
