Saudi Gazette report

MAKKAH — Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, emir of Makkah and advisor to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, announced the allotment of land in Al-Faisaliah project to build an airport for Haj and Umrah. The new airport will be linked to Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport in collaboration with the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA).

Prince Khaled made the remarks during the ceremony of signing agreements and memoranda of cooperation for Al-Faisaliah project in the presence of Makkah Deputy Emir Prince Badr Bin Sultan and Minister of Finance Muhammad Al-Jadaan, who is also chairman of the board of directors of the Saudi Real Estate General Authority.

Al-Faisaliah City project, which will be constructed on an area of 2,450 square kilometers, will be located in the western part of Makkah, starting from the Makkah Haram boundary and will extend up to the Red Sea coast of Al-Shuaiba in the west.

The emir said that the project was approved by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, saying that the King named the project as Al-Faisaliah. Prince Khaled thanked King Salman, Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman and Al-Jadaan for their great interest in implementing the project.

Prince Khaled and Al-Jadaan signed the agreement to allocate and invest the state-owned land within the boundaries of Al-Faisaliah project to implement the airport project.

Another agreement to form an integral partnership that contributes to achieving the joint strategic goals of the two parties in the Al Faisaliah project was also signed. This agreement comes to start the implementation of projects in Al-Faisaliah after the completion of studies and designs for the project.

Meanwhile, Ihsan Bafakih and Fahd Al Sudairi, CEO of Saudi Electricity Company (SEC), signed the agreement to exploit the Al-Faisaliah site for a solar project. Under the agreement, SEC was granted the right to use the land so that it can enjoy its rights and fulfill its obligations in accordance with the project requirements.

This agreement is in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and within the framework of efforts to diversify the energy sources and to optimize the use of hydrocarbon and mineral resources to achieve sustainable development of the national economy.

The Ministry of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources will carry out, through its the Office of Renewable Energy Projects Development, preparatory technical studies for the entire project, which will be implemented in phases, of which 600 MW project will be offered by the office in a public bid this year.

The 2,600 MW solar project aims to feed around 340,000 homes and keep pace with the expected increase in population and pilgrims and the expected increase in demand for electricity and clean energy.

This project will provide clean energy, reduce carbon emissions of more than four million tons annually, and create investment and industrial opportunities that will generate 3,000 to 4,000 construction jobs and 150 to 200 operational jobs.

Al-Faisaliah City project is expected to provide one million jobs in different sectors including health, education, technology and services. The project will also include a port and will also house all government authorities in Makkah. Several tourism and entertainment projects will be established on Al-Faisaliah waterfront.

The Makkah Region Development Authority (MRDA) will oversee the project, which will have an independent management. The project would include an Islamic Center within the first phase of Al-Faisaliah project, which includes the complex of government departments, the waterfront, the logistics area, the diplomatic quarters and development of Allaith Road.