Jeddah Central Project
Jeddah Downtown Project
The Jeddah Downtown project is one of the most ambitious projects in Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, launched by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in 2021. It represents a massive urban achievement and a pivotal transformation for the city of Jeddah, located in the western part of Saudi Arabia. This project aims to turn Jeddah into a global destination for tourism and investment, enhancing the country’s position on the global tourism map.
The Jeddah Downtown project plays a significant role in achieving the goals set by the Kingdom’s future vision, which focuses on investing in and developing vast spaces that blend the kingdom’s rich heritage with modern development. It also aims to enhance infrastructure and provide citizens and residents with the finest standards of living.
In this article, we will explore the project in detail and answer all questions related to the ambitious Jeddah Downtown project.
Objectives of the Jeddah Downtown Project
The company developing the Jeddah Downtown project has set clear visions, objectives, and strategies aimed at advancing the city of Jeddah specifically and enhancing the nation’s economy in general. Below is a list of the most important objectives:
- Transform Jeddah into a global destination for tourism, sports, and culture on the Red Sea coast, providing a unique and distinguished tourism experience to attract both local and international tourists and investors, and ranking Jeddah among the top 100 cities globally.
- Promote sustainable development and boost the local economy by creating more job opportunities, with the project contributing to the creation of 36,000 jobs.
- Achieve additional economic value for the Kingdom estimated at 47 billion Saudi Riyals by 2030.
- Diversify income sources and explore ways to reduce dependency on oil.
- Provide over 5 million square meters of construction space in the construction and real estate sector.
- Strengthen international cooperation and preserve cultural heritage through partnerships with international organizations and companies, encouraging cultural exchange and the redevelopment of abandoned areas.
Location of the Jeddah Downtown Project
The Jeddah Downtown project is located in one of the most vibrant and strategic areas of Jeddah, with the project situated a moderate distance from the Andalus neighborhood and King Fahd Fountain. It is distinguished by its stunning natural features, as it directly overlooks the shores of the Red Sea, extending over 9.5 km, with a 2.1 km long open sandy beach equipped with a natural promenade to protect the environment by preventing vehicles from getting close to the beach. Additionally, there is a world-class marina ready to welcome yachts, both locally and internationally. The project is also close to Mecca and Medina, two of the most important religious landmarks, attracting pilgrims and visitors from all over the world each year.
Over 500 engineers and consultants in the construction sector, with extensive experience in applying the best global standards, contributed to the design of the project, blending architectural elements inspired by historical art.
Target Area of the Jeddah Downtown Project
The target area for the implementation of the Jeddah Downtown project is 5.7 million square meters, which is roughly equivalent to 800 football fields. The project stretches along 9.5 kilometers of the Red Sea coast. Notably, this area allows for the construction of various facilities, including leisure, tourism, and commercial spaces, which may include:
- The Central Area: This is the connecting hub between the six sections of the project, focusing on residential areas and essential and recreational services, with transportation options and roads facilitating easy access to neighboring areas.
- The Waterfront Area: This area connects Jeddah to the Red Sea through a sandy beach that stretches over 2 kilometers. It is a fully serviced and unmatched maritime destination, featuring a waterfront promenade and an opera house.
- The Marina and Yachts Area: It includes luxurious residential and hotel areas, shopping and entertainment facilities, surrounded by coral reefs and underwater gardens, creating a stunning visual appeal.
- The Sports Area: This section includes a large stadium designed for hosting both local and international sports events, alongside several other sports facilities.
- The Health and Environment Area: This area will host the King Fahd Armed Forces Hospital, the largest medical complex in Jeddah, along with various specialized clinics and research and development facilities.
- The Arts and Creativity Area: This zone will promote art and culture and will help visitors learn about the history of the desalination station.
Cost of the Jeddah Downtown Project
The cost of the Jeddah Downtown project is 75 billion Saudi Riyals, equivalent to 20 billion US dollars, according to the Public Investment Fund. This value includes buildings and other large-scale construction projects that play a central role in boosting the Kingdom’s economy and attracting investment from around the world. The CEO of the company developing the project has confirmed that no property ownerships have been expropriated within the project.
The Jeddah Downtown project has had a significant economic impact, making Jeddah one of the most important tourist cities not only in the Middle East but globally. The project is expected to play a vital role in the future of Saudi Arabia’s economy.
Components of the Jeddah Downtown Project
The Jeddah Downtown project is one of the largest projects created to advance Saudi Arabia and support its economy. It provides a fully integrated community with services and facilities. The project consists of four major global landmarks:
- Opera House
- Museum
- Sports Stadium
- Coral Reef Pools and Marine Farms
Additionally, the project will develop and implement 10 major international standard projects in highly strategic locations, including entertainment, tourism, cultural, and sports projects with world-class designs. These include the construction of stadiums and sports clubs equipped with the latest sports equipment, luxury tourist resorts with elegant designs and decor for all tastes, and, most importantly, cultural and recreational facilities, parks, and family-friendly entertainment.
The project will also feature residential developments covering 42% of the total project area with modern designs, creating 17,000 housing units. The project will also include various hotel projects covering 11% of the area, offering over 2,700 rooms with high-end finishes and breathtaking views of the natural surroundings.
Jeddah Downtown will feature a marina with attractive world-class specifications and 5-star beachfront resorts, providing a relaxing and peaceful atmosphere, as well as the largest restaurants and cafes offering local and international dishes, diverse commercial markets, and administrative office spaces covering 12% of the project area, providing diverse solutions for various business sectors. Therefore, Jeddah Downtown is a comprehensive project that offers both tourists and residents a unique and exceptional experience.
Details of the Jeddah Downtown Project Landmarks
As mentioned above, the Jeddah Downtown project aims to create four major landmarks that will play a prominent role in the prosperity and diversity of Jeddah’s economy. These landmarks are as follows:
Jeddah Downtown Museum
The Jeddah Downtown Museum will offer a unique experience for citizens and tourists of all ages. This museum will focus on revitalizing the desalination station and showcase the transformation process through various historical and scientific methods. It will help turn the city into a popular tourist destination, highlighting and preserving Jeddah’s industrial heritage.
The Jeddah Downtown Museum is scheduled to open in 2028, and will feature an area dedicated to displaying creative works and innovation, along with studios for artistic production and spaces for craftsmen to showcase both modern and traditional crafts from Saudi Arabia.
Sports Stadium
The Sports Stadium is one of the most luxurious projects in Jeddah Downtown, designed with world-class specifications inspired by the architectural heritage of Jeddah. It will showcase various sports, entertainment, and cultural facilities that align with FIFA global standards to enhance the healthy lifestyle in Saudi society.
The stadium will cover an area of 90,000 square meters and will feature advanced cooling systems in the stands, a covered roof, and proximity to the Red Sea. It will include expansive gardens, green spaces, and a world-class field with a capacity of over 45,000 spectators. Additionally, the stadium will include a large media conference room with a capacity for 200 seats, along with luxury changing rooms for players.
The stadium’s global design is a result of a collaboration between the Jeddah Downtown development company and leading international companies such as the China Railway Construction Corporation and Sama Construction and Contracting Company.
The stadium is expected to be a main venue for local, regional, and international events, including the 2027 AFC Asian Cup. It is also a candidate to host World Cup 2034 matches and events.
Opera House
The Opera House is a project that reflects the cultural and social developments targeted within Saudi Vision 2030. It is one of Jeddah’s largest projects and was designed by a Danish architectural firm that focuses on using local materials and incorporating elements that commemorate Saudi Arabia’s history, listed on UNESCO’s World Heritage list.
The Jeddah Opera House will include three theaters with varying capacities and global standards. The first is the Red Sea Theater, which will have 1,500 seats; the second is the medium-sized theater with 700 seats; and the third is the small theater with 200 seats. Additionally, the Opera House will feature an arrival plaza, a sunset plaza, a dedicated movement and play area, and an international music training center.
The Opera House is expected to host several exciting and diverse performances during the 2024 festival, including classical opera performances, special children’s shows, global music performances, maritime and recreational activities, and a variety of cultural and artistic events.
Coral Reef Pools and Marine Farms
The Coral Reef Pools and Marine Farms project, developed by the Jeddah Downtown company in partnership with a leading global architecture company with over 85 years of experience in the field, will offer a unique marine life experience. The project will contribute to cementing Jeddah’s regional and global importance as a city that cares about marine environment preservation.
The Coral Reef Pools and Marine Farms project will include artificial marine reefs that will foster the growth of various marine species such as fish and coral. This project will highlight the importance of preserving coral reefs and the entire marine ecosystem in the Red Sea, allowing tourists and visitors to view marine life firsthand.
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