A development project at the Jeddah seafront worth SR280 has been approved to take place in three stages, a Jeddah Mayoralty official said. The project, which will be designed by an international company, will be awarded to “reliable contractors” who meet the required standards, said Alawi Sumait, Deputy Mayor for Projects. The detailed standards of the project will be announced within two months, he said. The project is part of a package of development projects at seafronts in various beach cities along the Red Sea including Al-Laith and Al-Qunfudah. The mayoralty has had discussions with the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) about offering investment opportunities in islands off the Al-Laith city, he said. Many investors have come forward with investment plans and “we are still looking into the offers,” he said. The mayoralty is looking for long-term investors, he said. Meanwhile, the infamous Jeddah sewage lake, which holds now over four million cubic meters of sewage, will be used for irrigation of the planned eastern forest, he said. According to the Deputy Mayor, the city has a plan with the Jeddah Development Company to dry out the lake of its sewage water, which still poses a threat to the entire city if the lake breaks its defense barriers. When asked about the bridge projects which have not been completed, Sumait said the delays have been caused by unclear maps of sewage, water, and power infrastructure which would cripple the progress of road projects, he said. The mayoralty, however, is “strict” about contractors who do not meet the deadlines. “We apply penalties only when the contractor is solely responsible for the delay of projects,” he said. The mayoralty, supported by the Emir's Office, works to eliminate problems hindering the progress of city projects, he said.
