The final agreement for the development of Jeddah's Historical District and seafront was signed Wednesday, paving the way for extensive development, renovation and preservation plans. Signed by Jeddah Mayor and chairman of Jeddah Urban Development Company Adel Fakeih and chairman of City Centers Development Company Ghassan Al-Solaiman in the presence of Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah, the agreement will, according to Fakeih, transform the area into “world class” zone. “It will strengthen the partnership between the mayoralty as represented by the Urban Development Company… and the private sector represented by the City Centers Development Company formed of local and Gulf partners,” Fakeih said. The work will be conducted over an area of six million square meters and take in 14 kilometers of seafront. “The project will provide green spaces, improve infrastructure and renovate lake sites and the historical area of the city,” Fakeih said. “There will be public spaces, pedestrian boulevards, recreation areas, and the project will go toward solving a lot of the problems concerning central Jeddah such as pollution at the lakes and the deteriorating condition of the historical town.” Existing streets, according to the plans, will be preserved, developed and expanded in the face of infrastructure work, as will the architectural fabric and historic buildings. Mayor Fakeih also revealed that that a Historic Jeddah Municipality will be established. According to Ghassan Al-Solaiman, the works will “revive the heart of the city”, making it a “vibrant center providing all the required services and adding additional value to the standard of living to the people of Jeddah”. “It will be a world class area inspired by its own deep heritage and cultural diversity,” Al-Solaiman said. “It will improve the environment in the historical area and attract economic projects and provide jobs. Landowners in the area will be free to join in with the project with through their own projects or form small companies with each other.”
