Authorities have freed 20 million sq.m. of government land grants from the grip of land thieves in Jeddah. As a result, at least 3,000 rightful owners will get their government-granted lands back within the next few days, said Sameer Ba-Sabrin, director of the Land Violations Office at Jeddah Mayoralty. Illegal buildings or farms found on such lands in the south and north of Jeddah are being demolished, he said. The action followed complaints from the rightful owners. Consequently, a committee of members from Jeddah Mayoralty, Police and Governorate conducted a survey of government land grants in the city's outskirts four months ago. The operation started with Developed Land 707 which had been given away to citizens along with ownership titles. The committee found that land grabbers had changed the original 707 layout, divided the plots among themselves and moved in as the original owners had not occupied their properties. The committee has so far freed up two government-developed lands and is still working on other lands, said Muhammad Al-Jifri, assistant mayor for Lands at the Jeddah Mayoralty. “It has taken at least three months to free up the land grants amid resistance from the illegal occupiers,” said Nasser Al-Miteb, director of Briman Municipality Branch, who is also a committee member. No arrests were made, however. Durrat Al-Arus, a developed land north of Jeddah, will be soon checked for any violations, he said. “We warn all occupiers to present official titles of ownership, or else their property will be destroyed,” he said. “If they do not respond to the third warning, their illegal property will scheduled for demolition within 15 days,” Al
