MAKKAH: Makkah’s royal commission announced one of the city’s largest ever urban development programs during a ceremony on Tuesday evening.
A number of agreements were signed to formally launch the projects, which will make up an area of more than 4.4 million sq. meters backed by more than SR16.3 billion ($4.35 billion) worth of investment.
Part of the holy city’s Developed Districts Program, the new phase focuses on seven central sites: South Jurhum, Al-Hajlah, Al-Khalidiyah, three areas in Al-Hindawiyah and Al-Zuhur.
Rather than turning to outside contractors, the commission has handed the work to a series of national partners.
The South Jurhum project went to an alliance of Muad International Ltd. and Al-Rajhi Real Estate Union Co.
The Al-Hajlah project was awarded to a group pairing Zood Al-Oula Real Estate Co. with Mohammed Abdulaziz Al-Habib and Sons Holding Co. and Jadwa Investment.
The Al-Khalidiyah project fell to Ladun Investment Co. and Al-Ayuni Investment and Contracting Co., while the eastern stretch of Al-Hindawiyah drew an alliance of Al-Jada Al-Oula Real Estate Development Co., Dar Al-Majed Real Estate Co., Rikaz Real Estate Co. and Jadwa Investment.
Development of the southern and western districts of Al-Hindawiyah went to a consortium of Umm Al-Qura for Development and Construction Co., Makkah Construction and Development Co., and Al-Rajhi Real Estate Union Co.
Al-Zuhour, the seventh site, was assigned to Tawafuq Co. and Matoon Co.
The work centers on the districts most in need of attention and will involve upgrading the built environment, sharpening the cityscape and improving daily life.
The Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites also aims to preserve the urban fabric of the sites and the surrounding neighborhoods.
The broader goal is to make Makkah more attractive as a place to invest and build — and to steer its growth in a way that keeps pace with a rapidly expanding city without losing sight of residents’ needs.
Officials expect positive ripple effects to travel well beyond the seven sites themselves, lifting the quality of the surrounding areas, making the wider urban environment run more efficiently and opening new opportunities for development and investment.
They aim to keep Makkah’s growth sustainable and affirm confidence in an urban future that honors the city’s religious and strategic weight while serving the millions who live in and travel to it.
Taken together, the new phase reflects a push toward a more efficient, better-organized and more appealing city in line with the aims of Saudi Vision 2030.
