JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman on Thursday inaugurated 259 development projects worth SR7 billion ($1.86 billion) in the Hail region.
Hail Gov. Prince Abdul Aziz bin Saad bin Abdul Aziz thanked the king for visiting the region. He said the king allocated funds for the projects related to various sectors, including tourism, electricity, municipality, environment, water, agriculture, housing, transport and energy.
Citizens of the Hail region also called on the king at Aja Palace.
The king also laid the foundation for four projects worth SR294 million in the region. The projects implemented by the Ministry of Transport aim at achieving the leadership aspirations to upgrade the quality of life in cities under the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
These projects include carrying out the final phase of a project to directly connect the Hail region with the holy sites in Madinah and Makkah, in addition to adding another lane to the initial phase of the existing Hail/Al-Ula road and completing the Hail/Rafha two-way road project.
Other projects include a one-way, 366-kilometer road; restoring and upgrading an existing 237-kilometer road; adding a 13-kilometer lane to an existing road, and building top and bottom crossings.
The ministry is carrying out regular maintenance for 4,283 kilometers of roads in the Hail region at a cost of more than SR225 million and preventative maintenance for more than 370 kilometers of roads at a cost of SR295 million, in addition to maintaining 2,760 out of the 6,100 dirt roads in the region at a cost of SR48.4 million.
These projects will help the movement of residents and pilgrims traveling by land, in addition to boosting the movement of goods and improving road safety by directing trucks movement away from the cities.
Earlier in Qassim, the king inaugurated 600 development projects worth SR16 billion in the region.
King Salman inaugurates SR7bn projects in Saudi Arabia’s Hail region
King Salman inaugurates SR7bn projects in Saudi Arabia’s Hail region
- Citizens of the Hail region also called on the king at Aja Palace
- King Salman also laid the foundation for four projects worth SR294 million in the region
Makkah’s urban shift enhances city’s quality of life
- By harmonizing religious heritage with modern urban development, Makkah proves that a city can honor its past while embracing the future
MAKKAH: Islam’s holiest city is at present witnessing a qualitative urban shift, one that seamlessly blends its spiritual sanctity with a modern, vibrant lifestyle.
By integrating cultural, educational, and entertainment initiatives, Makkah is redefining the visitor experience and significantly enhancing the quality of life for its residents, directly supporting the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.
The city’s transformation was recently highlighted by the success of the Makkah winter season. The event attracted approximately 400,000 visitors — more than 60 percent of whom were locals — demonstrating a strong domestic demand for high-quality public spaces. The season revitalized community interaction, driving a 35 per cent increase in visits to recreational sites and creating more than 1,200 temporary jobs for the local workforce.
Central to this urban renaissance is the Hira Cultural District. Since opening doors in January 2023 near the historic Mount Hira, the district has become a definitive landmark that bridges Islamic history with contemporary identity.
Far from being a static monument, the district has cultivated a thriving creative economy. Its craftsmanship program, which features over 100 artisans, has generated up to SR3 million ($800,269) in sales and attracted 130,000 visitors to live workshops. These interactive spaces allow visitors to engage directly with the region’s heritage, moving beyond passive observation to active participation.
A living legacy
The shift extends to Makkah’s broader ecosystem of museums and cultural sites, which are now positioned as key pillars of cultural tourism. Facilities such as the Revelation Exhibition use cutting-edge technology and multilingual content to narrate the story of the Holy Quran’s revelation, offering an immersive experience that complements the spiritual journey of pilgrims.
These efforts align with the “Makkah: A Living Legacy” campaign, which seeks to document the city’s historical narrative and preserve its collective memory. Recent months have featured a surge in educational workshops for university students and tour guides, ensuring that the human element of Makkah’s history is conveyed with accuracy and depth.
Economic and social impact
The results of this integrated approach are tangible. Specialized museums and restored historic sites now attract up to 1.6 million visitors a year. This cultural enrichment is encouraging pilgrims to linger longer, increasing the average duration of stay by 18 percent.
By harmonizing its religious heritage with modern urban development, Makkah is proving that a city can honor its past while embracing the future, offering a holistic experience that nourishes the soul and the community.
