By Okaz/Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — The Ministry of Finance, represented by the Real Estate General Authority (RGA), on Thursday officially received the land of the old US consulate premises in Jeddah and the buildings on it, prior to handing it over to the Public Investment Fund.

Sources told Okaz/Saudi Gazette that a vital gigantic project would soon be constructed on the land spreading over an area of more than 121,000 square meters.

The receipt and delivery of the compound was signed by US Consul General in Jeddah Ryan M. Gilha and the representatives of RGA — Fares Mohammed Al-Dhawi and Zaid Al-Dhawi.

The consulate property is strategically located close to four arteries of Jeddah —Palestine Street in the south, Hail Street in the east, King Abdulaziz Road in the west, and Al-Hamra street in the north.

On Sept. 22, the US Consulate in Jeddah shifted to its new headquarters in Muhammadiyah district, next to the building of the new American International School.

The US Consulate had been functioning on the Palestine Street for more than 65 years, after moving its headquarters from the downtown Balad area.

When the Consulate had moved to Al-Hamra, the neighborhood was then an isolated area on the Red Sea coast, marking the border of the city on the northern side, and henceforth, the city expanded further north and east making Al-Hamrah now in the middle of the city.