Abdullah to review uplift projects DAMMAM — King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, arrived here Monday after his historic visit to Bahrain and was received by Prince Muhammad Bin Fahd, Emir of the Eastern Province, and several other senior officials. All major streets of Dammam and Al-Khobar were decorated with huge billboards carrying pictures of the King, and Saudis and expatriates alike were seen in a festive mood. The Emir said the King's visit showed the close relationship he has with the people. “The King is well-known for his keenness to meet citizens and hear about their needs. This visit is clear proof of the Monarch's determination to see the advancement made in this part of our country and to check on the [progress] of projects.” Prince Muhammad said that the people of Saudi Arabia were living in a time of major economic developments. He said the King wanted to see “development all over the country”. He said the Eastern Province has had a “big share of economic development and expansion”. Prince Juluwi Bin Abdul Aziz Bin Musa'ed, Deputy Emir of the Eastern Province, said the people of the region had been looking forward to the visit. He also praised the King for his economic decisions. “The dynamism of the economic decisions that were taken by King Abdullah has been in the interests of citizens and the nation. Every citizen and expatriate can see the positive effects on the country.” The King, during his visit, will be briefed on the huge infrastructure and tourism development projects which are under way in the two major cities of the Eastern Province - Dammam and Al-Khobar. The Eastern Province, with its wealth of natural resources, including more than 20 percent of the world's proven oil reserves, is now the Kingdom's gateway to international trade and tourism. Of the Kingdom's more than 100 oil and gas fields, eight are located in the Eastern Province, containing more than 50 percent of the country's total oil reserves. The region is also highly industrialized. More than 86 percent of the companies affiliated with the Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) are located in this part of the Kingdom. One major development in the Eastern Province is the establishment of Jubail Industrial City 2, located some 150 kilometers from Dammam, which will contain primary industries engaged mainly in petrochemical production, in addition to industrial complexes including smelting plants. The development of the industrial city will cost about SR14 billion, a huge amount that will beef up the growth of local industries. When fully operational, the city is expected to generate about 55,000 direct and 330,000 indirect jobs. The acting president of the Saudi Retirees Association, Bidah Al-Qahtani, who is from the Eastern Province, said retirees and pensioners all around the Kingdom are delighted with the 15 percent increase in their monthly pension, five percent of which they are now enjoying. “We thank the King for positively responding to our letters to him seeking for an increase in our pensions,” Al-Qahtani said. Citizens in the region who are saddled with the increasing costs of housing rentals are also asking the King to provide them with more housing facilities. The building of more housing units and apartments will not only provide citizens with a decent living, but will also help reduce rents, said a citizen from Al
