Residential buildings in eastern Jeddah as seen on Monday. – Okaz photoJEDDAH – The Ministry of Justice has told the Jeddah First Notary Public Office to stop transferring ownership of title deeds for about 200,000 properties in 60 residential districts. Informed sources said the decision will prevent the properties' sale, purchase or transfer, even if they are not in districts hit by the Jeddah flood disaster, until a committee establishes a method to specify which properties are located in valley floors and flood paths. The sources said the committee comprises King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, the Saudi Geological Survey and the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment. Several realtors have estimated that of the 200,000 plots of land in more than 60 eastern Jeddah districts, 21,000 are located in valley beds and flood paths. Acting Head of the First Notary Public Office Abdullah Bin Misfir Al-Qarni confirmed that his organization will comply with the directives that specify the type and size of properties for which transfer of ownership will stop or properties would be expropriated. Al-Qarni said computerizing the transfer of title deeds is increasing productivity reducing the problem of more than one person having the same title deed. When the system becomes fully operational, the problem of overcrowding will be solved and it will take 20 minutes at most to issue transfer-of-ownership documents, Al-Qarni said. In this connection and on the sidelines of a meeting on Monday chaired by Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah, to develop the unplanned districts, Mayor of Jeddah Adel Fakeih said construction will start by year end on 30,000 housing units for residents of the unplanned districts.
