Faisal, Emir of Makkah, said Sunday that he and other leaders are responsible for ensuring that Makkah sets a standard among the world's top cities. “We will be held accountable before Allah and the coming generations if we don't work to make Makkah the most beautiful and modern city in the world,” he said. “We are living in conditions that enable us to achieve this, including a leadership that has the will and gives full support to this trend, abundance of wealth the Kingdom is living in, and Saudi nationals capable of achieving this.” Prince Khaled made this observation while chairing a meeting with officials from Al-Balad Al-Amin and a number of investors competing for projects to develop public transport in Makkah. He said the 10-year plan for the region's strategy has been established and two years of the plan have been carried out. “This plan is considered the real starting point for development and the initial point for the strategy starts from the Holy Ka'ba, to which millions of Muslims come throughout the year,” he said. Prince Khaled said Makkah's new plan relies on modern transport and the latest technology to facilitate the arrival and departure of Muslims to the Grand Mosque and the holy sites. Prince Khaled stressed the importance of offering bids for the transport projects, planning them on integrated bases through linking them with one network with Jeddah and Taif, which are two major gateways to Makkah. He stressed the need for communications and public transport that suit “the purest land on the earth to make it the most beautiful city in the world.” The Emir watched a presentation on the public transport projects in Makkah and the holy sites and the results of a workshop Al-Balad Al-Amin held with a number of investors to offer these projects to the private sector to invest in them and execute them in alliances with the government. The meeting was attended by Makkah Mayor Dr. Osama Al-Bar, Dr. Abdul Aziz Al-Khudhairi, Undersecretary of the governorate in Makkah region and a number of officials from Al-Balad Al
