The Saudi housing crisis can be solved with cheap units, less bureaucracy and innovative financing, said Deputy Premier of Turkey Ali Babacan at the Jeddah Economic Forum (JEF) yesterday.
Babacan said his government granted free plots and built six million units to solve the housing crisis in Turkey.
Babacan stressed the need to cut lengthy bureaucratic procedures.
“My country succeeded over the past 10 years in implementing a national project to establish integrated residential districts which accounted for 10 percent of all housing projects. It also fulfilled the housing needs of the people and eradicated slums and unplanned neighborhoods,” the Turkish minister said.
“We realized that simplifying procedures to obtain housing plots was the cornerstone of solving the housing problem,” he said.
The system also evolved a two-pronged approach by adopting a community housing scheme and undertaking another for profitable housing projects.
He said the private sector undertook the projects. The projects also included the construction of 900,000 schools and 100,000 health care centers because all housing facilities need other utilities and infrastructure.
Funding solutions included the issue of treasury bonds, legalization of bond issues by the private sector, launching investment funds and the revitalization of the mortgage sector, he said.
People of limited income and middle income groups needed to pay only 25 percent of the cost of a unit initially with the remaining amount paid in installments, he said.
The deputy premier said developing nations have to solve their housing problems because discontent could erupt into uncontrollable situations.
In her address to the forum on the role of governments in the second session on the second day of the JEF, Ireland’s Minister for Housing and Planning Jan O’Sullivan briefly outlined the success story of how her country tackled its housing crisis with the establishment of housing cooperatives.
While people need only pay 25 percent of the construction cost of affordable houses, the private sector and some other agencies pay the remaining portion as part of their corporate social responsibility, O’Sullivan said.
It was the responsibility of the state to provide the land for housing, she said. With easy access to financing the country has been experiencing a housing and property boom. Her government is striving to revitalize the economy by providing more employment and housing opportunities at affordable prices. She added that while most people dream of owning their own homes some people do not repay the loans taken from financing institutions.
Chairman of the Board of Trustees and President of the Arab Urban Development Institute Abdullah Al-Naeem said that the Kingdom’s housing sector made a qualitative shift with Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah’s order to allocate SR 250 million to build 500,000 housing units. He added that the government allocated 2.5 million land grants for housing in the past. In Riyadh alone 40 million sq meters of land was granted to limited income families, he said.
Ali Babacan: Cut the red tape
Ali Babacan: Cut the red tape
Saudi traveler drives in search of the aurora
- ‘It felt like a dream,’ says 27-year-old Malik Al-Sultan after seeing the famed Northern Lights
JEDDAH: A Saudi adventurer has driven thousands of kilometers across continents in pursuit of one of the planet’s rarest natural spectacles.
Malik Al-Sultan set out from Riyadh in a modified Toyota Hilux, crossing Europe by road to reach northern Norway, where he witnessed the Northern Lights.
Auroras, or Northern Lights, are colorful and often delicate displays that occur when charged solar particles collide with Earth’s magnetic field and upper atmosphere. In the northern hemisphere, these shifting curtains of light are visible only during certain seasons.
“I love trying new experiences, seeking adventure, and facing challenges,” Al-Sultan told Arab News.
The idea of traveling long distances by car began in 2017 while Al-Sultan was in Switzerland with his family. “I saw a car there with a plate from one of the Gulf countries, and from that moment I was inspired,” he said.
Once his plans were complete, the destination was clear. “When everything was ready, I chose Norway.”
Al-Sultan, 27, is a university graduate and an employee who prefers simple travel. “I try to share my experience without exaggeration or change,” he said. “My goal is to visit as many countries as I can and share what I learn, what people need, and how much it costs.”
His journey took nearly three weeks of driving, with extended stops to explore several countries.
The route passed through Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Turkiye, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, Bosnia, Croatia, Slovenia, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, France, the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and finally Norway.
Along the way, Al-Sultan relied on ferry crossings between France and the UK and between Denmark and Norway, as well as for some travel within Norway.
Driving alone for long distances was challenging. “It was a bit tiring, but I took breaks to rest,” he said. Friends joined him on some stages during the trip.
Al-Sultan made only essential modifications to his 2020 Toyota Hilux 4x4. “I changed the tires and some consumable parts,” he said. For winter conditions in Norway, he used special snow tires with metal studs.
He said the vehicle was tested in difficult conditions — “especially in remote areas, high elevations, changing weather, and long distances.” Among the main challenges were “long distances and difficulty finding accommodation late at night.”
The Northern Lights are best seen in the night sky and far away from city lights. The aurora season usually begins in late September and lasts until late March. Even during this period, witnessing the phenomenon requires luck, and many aurora hunters return home disappointed.
Al-Sultan reached northern Norway near the city of Bodo, where he saw the Northern Lights earlier this month, close to the Rana area.
“It felt like a dream,” he said. “At first, I thought it was clouds or factory smoke reflecting light.”
The lights appeared in green and red, and remained visible for more than half an hour.
Reflecting on the experience, Al-Sultan said the journey taught him patience and self-reliance. “It showed me the value of endurance, trusting my own judgment, and making decisions independently,” he said. “I also discovered how to embrace and even enjoy challenges.”
During the trip, he was warmly hosted by families in different countries. People “were genuinely excited about my journey, and their enthusiasm grew even more when they learned I’m from Saudi Arabia,” he said. “They were also curious about the purpose of my journey and where I was headed.”
Despite the freezing temperatures during the trip, Al-Sultan chose to wear traditional Saudi attire.
“The thobe and shemagh are part of my identity, and I’m proud of them,” he said. “I feel most comfortable wearing them, so it was the natural choice.”
Al-Sultan added that this helped showcase “the true image of the Saudi citizen,” and he hoped he had represented his country positively.
His journey is far from over. “My next goal,” he said, “is to reach Iceland.”
