Major low-cost housing project set in Makkah

A major low-cost housing project is being implemented in Makkah to accommodate 2,300 Saudi families.
Municipal and Rural Affairs Minister Prince Mansour yesterday inspected the progress of work at Um Al-Joud, located about 14 kilometers from the Grand Mosque.
The first phase of “Makkah Oasis” has been completed and it will be handed over to 500 families. Prince Mansour said similar projects would be carried out in other parts of the country.
He said the government would provide necessary land for low-cost housing projects. The Kingdom intends to build 500,000 homes shortly to solve housing problem and has allocated SR 250 billion for it.
Abdul Rahman Al-Kheraiji, chairman of the project, said the first phase would be ready within two months.
“The second phase will have 1,800 housing units,” he added.
He described Makkah Oasis as a model development project. “It’s a pioneering experiment,” he added.
Nabeel Abbas, engineering consultant, said the project is being implemented following high quality and safety standards. “Modern technology is applied to make it cost-effective,” he added.
The project aims to build a total of 2,300 housing units on 670,000 square meters. It includes a number of commercial buildings and public utility facilities. The first phase includes 23 buildings of three to six floors.