Comprehensive report on development projects in reign of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz

Achievements include economic, educational, health, social, transport, communications, industrial, electricity, water, agricultural fields

Development march continues in various domains

In the reign of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is witnessing more giant development achievements all over the homeland in various economic, educational, health, social, transport, communication, industrial, electricity, water and agricultural fields.

Together, they constitute great achievements marked by comprehensiveness and integration in building and developing the homeland to become one of the developed countries.

Under the leadership of King Abdullah, and in the field of development, the Kingdom surpassed the set ceiling for achieving many development goals which were set by the United Nations Millennium Declaration in 2000. It is also on its way to achieve another number of them before the proposed dates.

The Saudi experience in seeking to achieve the development goals of the Millennium is characterized by the great momentum of the successful efforts to reach the set goals before their scheduled time ceilings, the success in integrating the Millennium’s development goals with the goals of the 8th development plan and making the Millennium’s development goals a part of development discourse and the phased and long-term policies of the Kingdom.

In the reign of the King Abdullah and in less than three years, the people of the Kingdom enjoyed many important achievements including the doubling of the numbers of the kingdom's universities in less than two years from eight universities to more than twenty universities, the opening of colleges and technological and medical institutions and girls' education colleges and the announcement of the establishment of many economic cities including the King Abdullah Economic City in Rabigh, the Economic City of Prince Abdulaziz bin Mosaed in Hail, the Economic City of Jazan, the Economic Knowledge City in Madinah in addition to the King Abdullah Financial Center in the city of Riyadh, turning the airport of Madinah to an international airport, the expansion of the King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah and the establishment of the airport of the economic city in Rabigh.

The reign of King Abdullah has been characterized by pioneering civilization features embodying his distinguished attributes topped by his total dedication to the service of his homeland and citizens in all fields and everywhere inside the homeland in addition to his keen interest in introducing legislation and building the state of institutions and information technology in various fields with expansion of applications. Royal orders containing effective development solutions have been issued in an organization that will reach the best performance.

The leader of this country has not stopped at what has been achieved of comprehensive achievements but he continues the march of development and planning for it in a persevering work to provide more welfare and prosperity for this country and its people.

King Abdullah has been keen on completing various projects facilitating the performance of Hajj for the pilgrims and eliminating the problems of overcrowding around the Jamarat Bridge and in the surrounding areas in addition to the projects of completing the building of tunnels, crossings and bridges that will lead to the smooth traffic movement to and from the Hajj site of Mina.

In the following report, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) highlights the most prominent developmental projects achieved during the current reign of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz and the decisions taken by the beloved King aiming at improving the standard of living of citizens and increasing the appropriations allocated for the support of service sectors and national economy, such as social security, water, electricity, Real Estate Development Fund, the Bank of Credit and Saudi Industrial Development Fund.

The citizen was and still at the forefront of the concerns of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, who always gropes their needs and closely examines their personal situations. As a result of this study, the King issued a royal order to increase the salaries of all categories of workers and personnel in the state, including civilians, servicemen and retirees by 15 percent in addition to increasing the allocations for other sectors and reducing gasoline and diesel prices.

In Rajab 1426 H., the monarch ordered the allocation of SR8 billion from the surplus of 1425 / 1426 H. budget for popular housing throughout the regions of the Kingdom, a project to be implemented over five years and to bring to SR10 billion the total amount appropriated for popular housing.

The King also issued directives increasing the capital of some development funds by a total amount of SR25 billion. The funds benefiting from the measure are the Real Estate Development Fund (SR9 billion to bring to SR92 billion the total capital), Saudi Credit Bank (SR3b to bring to SR6b the total), Industrial Development Fund (SR13b to bring to SR20b the total capital), and Public Investments Fund (SR20 billion).

The 8th Development Plan 1425 / 1430 H. aims at preserving the Islamic values, promoting national unity, national security and social stability, raising living standards, providing jobs for citizens, developing manpower, raising their efficiency, diversifying the economic base, increasing the contribution of the private sector to development, achieving balanced development between regions of the Kingdom, developing the science and technology system, giving attention to Informatics, supporting and encouraging scientific research and technological development, preserving and developing water resources, and protecting the environment.

In addition to what was prescribed in the Five-Year 8th Plan, a number of programs and development projects were allocated. They included programs and projects at the Grand Holy Mosque and the sacred places, improving the infrastructure including the primary health care, public, higher and technical education, public housing, and raising capital development funds. The state's reserves were also enhanced and the Public Investment Fund supported.

This year's budget has allocated large sums for achieving a quantum leap in the development of manpower, the mainstay for overall development, in the area of health, social care, orphans, the disabled and shortening the time frame for the eradication of poverty.

The total number of contracts signed for the implementation of projects during the current fiscal year reached 3200 worth more SR83 billion. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has opened seven giant health and medical projects in 1426 H. at a total cost of SR200 million. The opening of these projects increases by 150 the number of beds.

The Madinah-based 200-bed National Guard Hospital provides 72 housing units for its personnel and jobs for the skilled personnel.

King Abdullah has opened the Maternity, Gynecology and Pediatrics Hospital in Al-Madinah, the city's largest specialist hospital and the region's second medical and health facility. The 500-bed hospital cost SR447 million.

In the economic field, the instructions of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, towards comprehensive economic reforms and their intensifying efforts to improve the business environment in the country and launching a comprehensive program to solve the difficulties facing local, joint and foreign investments yielded prestigious results. We can cite the prize awarded by the World Bank in recognition of the accelerating steps taken by the Kingdom in the field of economic reforms, the Saudi entry in the list of the best ten countries who undertook economic reforms, the occupation of the first place in a World Bank classification as the best investment environment in the Arab world And the Middle East, and the world's 23rd out of 178 countries.

King Abdullah Economic City in the province of Rabigh is considered among the most prominent economic achievements, which stands witness to the magnitude of foreign investments attracted by Saudi Arabia.

The city is the largest integrated economic city in the Middle East and among the largest investment projects in the world.

During recent periodical inspection visits to various parts of the Kingdom, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz patronized the ceremony of laying the foundation stone of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Foundation for developmental Housing, donated SR 15 for the project, laid the foundation stones for a number of private sector projects worth more than SR82 billion in Jubail, laid the foundation stones for a number of developmental projects for the Ministry of Higher Education, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Electricity and Water, Public Institution for Technical Education and Vocational Training, and Al-Rajhi residential centre at Prince Sultan Civilization Center in Hail, launched Prince Abdulaziz bin Musaid Economic City in Hail at a cost of SR30 billion, laid the foundation stone for Hail - Al-Madinah road at a cost of more than SR300 million, and laid the foundation stone for the University of Hail at a cost of SR645 million.

In a visit to Al-Madinah Al-Munawrah, the monarch opened a number of projects serving visitors of the Prophet's mosque, including shades and expansions of the Eastern premises of the mosque at a cost of more than SR4.7 billion.

In the field of education, the King laid the foundation stone for Phase II of the University Compass for Al-Qassim University at a cost of SR1.020 billion, opened Phase I of the University of Taiba, laid the foundation stone for Phase II of the male and female students, laid the foundation stone for the training units project for the Technical Education and Vocational Training Institution in Al-Madinah at a total cost of more than SR700 million.

During his visit to Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud launched the Economic Knowledge City, the first of its kind based on know-how industries in the Kingdom at a total cost of SR 25 billion.

Within a visit to Taif, the King patronized the ceremony of laying the foundation stone for Training units, affiliating to the General Organization for Technical Education and Vocational Training at a cost of SR 300 million, laying the foundation stone for Al-Hada-Al-Karr road at a cost of more than SR198 million, the foundation stone for King Faisal Hospital in Taif at a cost of more than SR560 million, laid the foundation stone for Phase I of Taif University compass at a cost of more than SR one billion, and dedicated the University for Sciences and Technology in Taif at a cost of SR10 billion.

During a visit in Rajab 1427 H. to some regions, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques opened and laid the foundation stones for a number of developmental projects at an estimated cost of more than two billion Riyals.

The King opened a giant road network including the extension of Aqaba/Al-Baha/Al-Mikhwah and Almizailif two-way road at a cost of more than two billion Saudi Riyals.

He also laid the foundation stone for the University of Baha and the Technical College at a cost of SR400 million for Phase I.

He also opened new roads in Al-Baha Region at a total cost of about 1.3 billion.

The King opened a water pipe linking Baha with Al Ardat valley at a cost of SR325 million.

In Najran, the King opened and laid the foundation stones of a number of projects at a total cost amounting to SR3,000,349,000.

He laid the foundation stone of Najran University Campus at a cost of SR 600 million.

Najran electricity projects, opened by the King, are estimated at a cost of SR800 million.

He ordered the laying of the foundation stones for the Ministry of Labor projects in Najran at a cost of more than SR 200 million.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques also laid the foundation stone for the expansion and development of Najran Airport at a total cost of SR90 million.

The custodian of the two holy mosques king Abdullah bin Abdulaziz patronized the inauguration ceremony and laying foundation stones of a number of developmental projects in Asir region.

the king also gave permission to launch 26 training projects at a cost of more than SR 1.343 billion; to lay foundation stone of 22 projects of university projects at a cost of SR 2.5 billion; to lay foundation stone of 372 projects of the ministry of education worth more than SR 970 million; to lay foundation stone of medical projects of the ministry of health at a cost of more than SR 1 billion; to inaugurate and lay foundation stone of water and electricity projects stand at more than 2.4 billion; to inaugurate a fishing project of the ministry of social affairs; to lay foundation stone of Abha national university and city of 1000 factories of the private sector; and to lay foundation stone of development project of center of Abha city.

The king also patronized the inauguration ceremony of a number of development and service projects the projects belong to the ministries of municipal and rural affairs; labor (general organization of technical education and vocational training); higher education (Jazan university); education; agriculture; health; and water and electricity.

The king inaugurated 112 projects of the Municipal Ministry at a cost of SR 5.232 billion.

The king also approved the setting up of a new suburb in an area of 80 million square meters in Jazan city which includes more than 40,000 residential pieces to be distributed to citizens and the allocation of SR 1.175 billion for the suburb's infrastructure. He asked the king to call it ''king Abdullah bin Abdulaziz residential suburb''.

the king gave permission to launch 20 training projects and to unveil a memorial plaque for inauguration of technological college facilities and two vocational training institutes of the ministry of labor at a cost of more than SR 1 billion; to lay foundation stone of Jazan university at a cost of more than SR 900 million (first phase); to inaugurate projects of ministry of agriculture and two projects belonging to Arab shrimps company and Jazan company for development; to inaugurate and lay foundation stone of a number of health ministry's projects at a cost of more than SR 1.2 billion; to lay foundation stone and inaugurate projects of ministry of water and electricity; and to lay foundation stone of projects of the ministry of education at a cost of SR 1.160 billion.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz laid the foundation stone of King Saud University of Health Sciences, King Abdullah International Center for Medical Research and a number of vital specialized medical projects at the Health Affairs of the National Guard.

King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz patronized the ceremony of the Royal Commission of Jubail and Yanbu, the foundation stone laying and launching of 29 development and industrial projects in the city of Industrial Jubail with an investment of more than SR68 billion.

Initialing his signature on the electronic screen, the King laid the foundation stone for a number of developmental projects affiliating to the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu. They include the development of Al-Matrafiyah residential area, the development of the university compound- phase II in Jalmodah neighborhood, and the National Company for Industrial Gases (GAS).

The King also laid the foundation stone for a number of private sector projects. They are: Saudi Palermo Company (Chevron - Philips), expansion of Saudi Aramco Refinery, Bin Jarallah Group for Contracts Limited, Saudi Company for Solar Energy, Al-Khaleej (Gulf) Phosphates Factory, Al-Fanar Company, Al-Shargiya (Oriental) Petrochemicals Plant, Jubail Company for Energy Services, Saudi Company for Special Petrochemicals, and Trayomedi Plastic International Limited.

The monarch also opened a number of projects affiliating to Saudi Arabian Basic Industries (SABIC) including phase II of Jubail 2, expansion of the Saudi Methanol Company (Al-Razi), expansion of the projects of the Saudi Company for Iron Ore and Steel (Hadeed), Jubail United Company for Petrochemicals, and expansion of the National Company for Industrial Gases (GAS - 6), GAS - 7 Factory, an affiliate of Al-Razi.

The King also opened a number of private sector projects. They are: Saudi Company for Ethylene and Polyethylene, Jubail Advanced Company (Chevron - Philips Propylene ), Methanol Chemicals, Nama for Petrochemicals (Hasad project), Al-Khaleej Factory for Packaging Limited, International Company for Pipes Limited and Mada Plant for Fibers.

The expansion projects at the two Holy Mosques constitute the most important project implemented by the Saudi Government for the service of Islam and Muslims.

The Saudi Government has spent more than SR70 billion for the implementation of the expansion projects.

The total area of the expansion at the Holy Mosque of Makkah amounts to 76,000 square meter.

The expansion projects at the two Holy Mosques constitute the most important project implemented by the Saudi Government for the service of Islam and Muslims.

The Saudi Government has spent more than SR70 billion for the implementation of the expansion projects.

The total area of the expansion at the Holy Mosque of Makkah amounts to 76,000 square meter.

As regards the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah, the foundation stone for the expansion project was laid by Late Custodian of the two Holy Mosques King Fahd bin Abdulaziz in 1405 and work began in 1406.

The expansion project was implemented on an area of 82,000 square meters with the capacity of more than 150,000 worshippers.

Following the expansion project the capacity of the Prophet's Mosque has increased to more than 730,000 worshippers and the number can be increased to more than one million at the peak times.

Meanwhile, in Rajab, 1427, the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz ordered to complete the remaining works of the expansion project at the Prophet's Mosque at a total cost of SR 4.7 billion.