The decision by the Jeddah Mayoralty to stop services and permits to 79 planned residential districts because the areas are allegedly on flood routes, has been met with fierce opposition. The mayoralty has been asked to reconsider its decision and to carefully study the issue before taking a decision that will affect many lives. Abdullah Al-Ahmari, Chairman of the Real Estate Pricing Committee and Deputy Chairman of the Real Estate Committee at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), expressed astonishment at the decision. He told Okaz that the decision was not clearly spelt out and the mayoralty ought to be more open with citizens. Al-Ahmari said it was a decision that lacked sufficient study, in his view. He said the mayoralty should not deal with a mistake by committing another mistake. “Such a decision shouldn't have been issued unless it was studied meticulously by committees at the highest levels.” He said the decision was frightening. “Can't we demarcate the flood courses and sanitary drainage routes passing through these planned districts? Why do we bar other people and deprive them of services and permits? Is it possible that all these planned districts are located on valley floors and flood courses? If this is so, then how were these planned districts studied and approved [initially]?” He stressed the need for finding speedy solutions and not to leave citizens in a state of limbo. “We must have radical and convincing solutions. What crime have some citizens committed to bear the mistakes of others? There are citizens who have not taken delivery of their land grants and there are others who have not benefited from them.” Al-Ahmari said the Jeddah Mayoralty had announced two years ago what the urban limits of Jeddah city would be for the coming 50 years. “I believe that we should start working now to rectify the mistakes of the past 50 years before beginning planning districts for the next 50 years.” Meanwhile, Suhaila Hariri, a female realtor, said there has been a 15 percent rise in prices in the real estate market, including plots of land and housing units, whether for rent or purchase. She said this price hike was likely because of the brisk business in the sale and purchase of real estate, particularly in northern Jeddah. She hinted that the reasons for the flurry of activity in the real estate market in northern Jeddah was because of the movement of residents from southern and eastern Jeddah to northern Jeddah. It was also due to the damage and harm inflicted on the inhabited areas in eastern Jeddah. In addition, it coincided with development operations in the Khozam Area, in southern Jeddah. She said the slow pace of approval for permits and transactions related to new planned districts in Jeddah would create a burden on the limited income of Saudi citizens. If the situation was not rectified, and planning not quickly drawn up to establish alternative planned districts, many citizens with limited income would stop purchasing plots of land or buildings until new planned districts are set up to suit their incomes. She pointed out that Jeddah has been hit by several crises including the rise in prices of building materials such as iron reinforcement bars, hollow red bricks and cement.
