JEDDAH: The Jeddah Municipal Council is planning to enlist the help of Arab and non-Arab expatriates in its activities, especially in solving the problems they face.

Hussein Baaqeel, the new chairman of the Municipal Council, disclosed the plans shortly after his election on Thursday.

“In addition to starting many new projects we will strive to complete projects already launched by the council to make the life of Jeddah’s citizens and residents more comfortable,” he added.

The Makkah Municipal Council, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has previously held similar discussions with expatriates in Makkah.

The new chairman and deputy chairman of the Jeddah council for the next two years were elected in a meeting held at the Municipal House on Thursday. Hassan Al-Zahrani has been re-elected as the new deputy chairman. Most of the council members also got their period extended for two years.

The development of several of the city’s cemeteries, including the Umm Hawa Cemetery in the downtown area, the preparation of a list of new locations to be evacuated for development projects and what compensation should be given to those affected, besides guaranteeing them new homes, was also decided at the meeting.

Attendees also discussed solutions for the increasing environmental problems caused by the ongoing expansion of the King Abdulaziz International Airport.