The Eastern Province witnessed an exceptional event today (Monday) with the inauguration of the “New Dammam” project, under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz, Governor of the Eastern Province. Developed by Adl Real Estate Company, this project is one of the largest development projects in the Kingdom, with direct and indirect investments totaling approximately 98 billion riyals, reflecting the strength and resilience of the Saudi real estate sector and its attractiveness to major investors.

Strategic location and vast areas

The “New Dammam” project boasts a unique strategic location on the Dammam waterfront, spanning a vast total area of ​​approximately 32 million square meters, with a net area of ​​26 million square meters. This project is part of the major urban transformations underway in the Kingdom, aiming to capitalize on the Eastern Province's comparative advantages as a major coastal and tourist destination on the Arabian Gulf, thus enhancing Dammam's position as a vital urban and economic center.

Project components: A fully integrated city

The CEO of Alinma Financial Company, Mazen Baghdadi, explained the details of the project's master plan, noting that it comprises eight integrated residential districts containing 15,700 residential plots, in addition to 5,200 investment plots and 1,300 commercial plots. To further enhance its luxurious appeal, the project includes 322 waterfront villas, making it a premier residential and tourist destination.

Enhancing quality of life and environmental sustainability

In line with the goals of Vision 2030 and the Quality of Life Program, the project places a strong emphasis on environmental and recreational aspects. It features over 5 million square meters of water features and canals that enhance the aesthetic appeal of the development, along with more than 500,000 square meters of green spaces distributed across 49 parks. These elements aim to provide a healthy and sustainable urban environment for residents and visitors, incorporating modern technologies and smart solutions into the infrastructure.

Expected economic and social impact

The impact of the “New Dammam” project extends beyond urban development to encompass a wide-ranging economic and social impact. The project is expected to create over 80,000 new jobs, supporting the government's efforts to reduce unemployment and empower Saudi nationals. It also aims to attract more than 180,000 residents, helping to meet the growing demand for modern housing units in the region.

Strategic partnership and future vision

For his part, Ibrahim Al-Nimr, Managing Director and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Adl Real Estate Company, affirmed that this project is not merely a traditional real estate development, but rather the embodiment of a comprehensive development vision resulting from a solid partnership between the public and private sectors. The project aims to enhance the competitiveness of Saudi cities and establish them as global destinations for investment and tourism, thereby fulfilling the aspirations of the wise leadership in building a prosperous and sustainable future for the nation.

The General Authority for Roads announced the results of the first day of its sixth annual “Safe and Excellent Roads” campaign, recording 5,214 observations on the road network across the Kingdom. The Riyadh region topped the list with 1,154 observations. This intensive campaign aims to survey the road network outside urban areas, directly contributing to improved safety and maintenance standards and ensuring the quality of road infrastructure, which is vital for transportation and logistics in the Kingdom.

Details of field monitoring and distribution of observations

Official statistics from the authority revealed that field teams were able to survey 28% of the total targeted road network in record time. Regarding the geographical distribution of observations, the Riyadh region led with 930 observations, followed by the Qassim region with 610, and Madinah with 534. The monitoring also included 362 observations in the Eastern Province, 292 in Jazan, 286 in Tabuk, 259 in Asir, 258 in Al-Jawf, 192 in Hail, 156 in Al-Baha, 106 in Najran, and finally, 75 observations in the Northern Borders region. These observations included 353 reports received through the 938 call center platforms.

Strategic context: Towards achieving the goals of Vision 2030

The “Safe and Excellent Roads” campaign is of major strategic importance, as it aligns with the objectives of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy stemming from the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. The Kingdom aims to reach sixth place globally in the road quality index, while reducing road traffic fatalities to less than 8 deaths per 100,000 people by 2030. Periodic surveys and monitoring, such as this campaign launched by the Minister of Transport and Logistics, Engineer Saleh Al-Jasser, are a fundamental pillar for preserving national assets and ensuring their sustainability, thus enhancing the Kingdom’s position as a global logistics hub connecting three continents.

Community partnership and government integration

What distinguishes the sixth edition of the campaign is the scale of participation and integration across sectors, with over 620 members distributed across 61 field teams. These teams include representatives from the Ministry of Transport and Logistics, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, and members of the Special Forces for Road Security, in addition to the active participation of university students. This diversity reflects the Authority's commitment to fostering shared responsibility and engaging young national talent in engineering and technical fieldwork, thus providing them with valuable practical experience in road maintenance and safety.

Invitation to participate via communication channels

In closing, the General Authority for Roads reiterated its call to all citizens and residents to be partners in success by reporting any observations or visual distortions on the roads through the “938” application or by contacting the Customer Service Center at the same number. The Authority emphasized that the center employs specialized experts to ensure rapid response and resolution, and reaffirmed its full commitment to providing a safe and comfortable transportation experience for all road users in the Kingdom.

In a strategic move reflecting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's commitment to developing its defense system, the Ministry of Defense today signed 28 contracts with leading local and international companies specializing in military industries. This took place during the World Defense Show, hosted by the capital, Riyadh, a global platform that brings together leaders in the defense and security sector from around the world.

International partnerships to enhance defense capabilities

The signing ceremony was attended by high-ranking officials, with Assistant Minister of Defense for Executive Affairs, Dr. Khalid bin Hussein Al-Bayari, concluding four major contracts with the CEOs of leading global companies. These agreements included the French missile systems leader MBDA, the Saudi Arabian subsidiary of the American defense giant Raytheon, the South Korean company Hanwha Aerospace, and the Italian aerospace, defense, and security firm Leonardo.

In the same vein, the Deputy Minister of Defense for Procurement and Armament, Ibrahim bin Ahmed Al-Suwaid, signed eight additional contracts with CEOs of local, French, Turkish, Korean, and Italian companies, reflecting the Kingdom's diverse international partnerships. The package also included 16 contracts signed by the Ministry's Executive Directors General for Procurement and Armament with representatives of various companies.

World Defence Exhibition: A Gateway to the Future

The signing of these major contracts comes in the context of the World Defence Exhibition, a pivotal event on the global defense agenda. The exhibition not only showcases the latest military technologies but also provides a fertile ground for forging strategic partnerships that serve national interests. This event underscores Riyadh's position as a regional and international hub for defense decision-making and the exchange of military expertise.

Vision 2030 and the localization of military industries

These contracts are particularly important as they directly contribute to achieving the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030. Through these agreements, the Ministry aims to effectively contribute to localizing more than 50% of government spending on military equipment and services. This approach not only enhances the Kingdom's strategic independence but also contributes to the transfer of technology and knowledge, and creates high-quality job opportunities for Saudi nationals in the promising military industries sector.

Enhancing combat readiness and ensuring the sustainability of systems

The contracts signed primarily aim to enhance the military readiness of all branches of the Saudi Armed Forces. This includes strengthening defense capabilities, raising combat efficiency, and ensuring the sustainability of military systems through advanced maintenance and technical support services. Combining global expertise with local capabilities will guarantee the Kingdom a sophisticated defense system capable of effectively and competently addressing current and future security challenges.