“People of Rabigh must be the first beneficiaries of these projects, leading to their intellectual, cultural and economic progress,” the governor said yesterday while discussing the city's overall development with a working team.
“When I talk about development projects, I don’t mean just the construction of roads and buildings. The development of man should be our first priority so that the giant projects do not remain islands of the first world surrounded by third world people,” he said.
The meeting discussed all possibilities for the development of Rabigh and its people. It was the result of Prince Khaled’s recent inspection tour of Rabigh when he announced plans to implement a number of new development projects in the city.
During the last four years, Rabigh has made great strides in various sectors, including education, health, social care, roads, electricity, water, communications and services.
Six giant complexes were built to accommodate all general education male students during the current academic year. Five new buildings are being constructed to accommodate girl students.
A branch of King Abdulaziz University was established in Rabigh, where about 6,500 male and female students are studying the sciences, the arts, medicine, engineering, computer science and information technology. A SR401 million contract was signed to expand the university hospital in Rabigh to 300 beds.
The Higher Institute for Water and Power Technologies began studies this academic year, with 300 students enrolled in the preparatory year.
More than 18,000 cubic meters of desalinated water were pumped daily in Rabigh. The National Electricity Company has completed about 58 percent of a new water tank with a capacity of 4,000 cubic meters.
The electricity company has supplied power to about 99 percent of Rabigh's six districts. During 2011, the company provided electricity to 3,651 new subscribers, taking their total number to more than 28,000. Rabigh has an area of 14,000 square km and a population of nearly 100,000.