Citizens of Thuwal feel proud that their old village has now come up prominently on the world map with it hosting a cultural edifice called King Abdullah University for Science and Technology (KAUST). The university, undoubtedly, is destined to revolutionize the global concept of higher education. KAUST has put Thuwal, the small forgotten village, atop the world map of specialist professional institutions. Until recently the small village, 88 km north of Jeddah, was classified among the developing areas in the Kingdom. Toady, the picture has significantly changed because it has earned fame worldwide for being a center of one of the most advanced professional institutions in the world. With the official opening of the university on Sept. 23, the Saudi National Day, several more projects would be carried out in the village commensurate with the pioneering researches in KAUST which could challenge the most prestigious professional institutions across the globe. The project to develop Thuwal is being carried out along with the development of KAUST infrastructure and according to Nasser Al-Neffesi, the university's Vice President for Services and Facilities, the first phase of the development project is getting final touches. The rush phase of the projects, he said, includes development of the Corniche, building the headquarters of the National Guard and Frontier Guards and other recreational facilities. The development planners, he said, have taken into consideration the village's demographic structure, population density and the extension of Jeddah city toward Thuwal. The planners, he said, have stressed more on creating and availing job opportunities for the village's inhabitants with the objective of creating a sustainable development in the area. “Moreover, the planners have taken into account the importance of meeting the desires and requirements of the village's people,” he said. The first phase of the development project would finish in two months, he said. The second stage covers the development of the village's infrastructure such as sanitary drainage network, water network, roads, schools, mosques, primary health care centers and historical center to promote tourism in the area. The coastal village, he said, is potentially rich in the investment prospects manifested in the fishers' dock which has the capacity to accommodate over 180 fishing boats. Besides, he said, the marine entertainment dock can absorb more than 120 boats. Meanwhile, Adel Faqih, Mayor of Jeddah, said the ambitious development projects in Thuwal would turn the village into an investment hub. He said the projects would substantially improve the standard of living of the inhabitants since most of them work in the fishery field. Marai Al-Maghrabi, head of Thuwal Municipality, said the Jeddah Mayoralty is encouraging extension of the coastal city toward the north where Thuwal exists. Within this framework, he pointed out, Jeddah Company for Urban Development owned by the mayoralty has approved execution of several development projects in Thuwal. It is being construed as a natural extension of Jeddah, he said. These projects, the brainchild of Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah, include construction of a knowledge and tourist suburb on an area measuring 1,000,000 sq. meters, he said. Awad Abdul Wahid Al-Dowsi, member of the Real Estate Committee at Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the projects have prospered the village's economy. These projects, he said, have significantly increased the price of real estate by up to 200 percent. Nader Al-Jahdali, a resident, said the university's mega projects and the thousands of workers in the area have helped many job-seekers in the village to earn their living and lead an independent life.
