JEDDAH: A workshop on urban planning is being held today in Jeddah by the Saudi Center for Strategic Studies and the Mayor's Office to help plan for the challenges posed by increasing urbanization and turn Jeddah into a “model international city”. With technical support from the British government through its Foreign Office's strategic support program, the gathering will learn from the experience of numerous local and foreign specialists to help the Center for Strategic Studies draw up and carry through sustainable urban planning policies. Attendees will highlight a range of urban growth policies from around the world and their planning and infrastructure phases of development, while the challenges of sustainable urban growth facing the Jeddah mayoralty will be discussed before drawing up recommendations. Apart from sustainable development, subjects under discussion also include the effects of climate change on Arab cities, communications and their role in sustainable cities, balanced housing density, environmentally-friendly buildings, and city restructuring to confront energy challenges. The occasion will be launched in the presence of Prince Faisal Bin Turki Al-Faisal, President of the Saudi Center for Strategic Studies, and the Mayor of Jeddah, Hani Abu Ras.
