Saudi Gazette    April 18, 2008   -  JEDDAH – Jeddah is about to have its own domestic airport soon.

The airstrip will be part of a new suburb to be developed in the eastern outskirts of the Red Sea city, said Adel Faqeeh, the city’s mayor.

The Arabic daily Al-Watan on Thursday quoted him as saying that the “phenomenal” project includes several facilities – mainly an integrated central service area, residential complexes, domestic airport, a service center for pilgrims, a logistic services center and an industrial city. He added that the suburb will have a chain of investment complexes and an international expo center, and will be developed by the Jeddah Company for Development and Construction.

The same company is also in the process of carrying out a package of other projects in Jeddah that, Faqeeh said, would change the face of the coastal city.

One project will see a redesign of the districts of Khozam and Sabeel. Another project is meant to introduce dramatic changes in the architectural style of the Sharafyia district.

Probably even more significant is a project to build residential units for impoverished citizens in three areas in southern Jeddah. Fakeeh said the Sharafyia project is part of a broader plan to develop several areas and districts in Jeddah that lack investment potential.

“This shows that the ultimate goal behind these projects is to give a facelift to these old districts based on the (Jeddah) Municipality’s organizational strategy.”

Faqeeh said residential units will be built in three areas. One is in the north of the Faris Bay, a second in Southern Rawabi and a third north of Jeddah’s Naval Base.

He said part of these residential areas will be rented to single men, while others will be allocated for families. Others will also be for the housing of professionals categorized and defined by the Ministry of Social Affairs. Fakeeh said the company will start with the Khozam and Sabeel project, adding that the development work will be extended to downtown Jeddah.