In a significant step towards enhancing public safety and improving the urban landscape, the Jeddah Municipality began demolishing dilapidated buildings in the Al-Ruwaiss district on Sunday. This operation is part of a broader effort to address informal settlements and crumbling buildings that not only pose a threat to lives and property but also hinder the city's sustainable development.

The Jeddah Municipality clarified that the General Directorate of Emergency and Crisis Management has completed the necessary regulatory procedures, notifying 1,011 buildings in the first phase of the project in the Al-Ruwaiss district. Demolition orders have been issued for these buildings by the Committee for Buildings at Risk of Collapse after granting the owners the specified grace period to vacate, paving the way for the commencement of actual demolition work on the ground.

A broader context within Saudi Vision 2030

This step cannot be viewed in isolation from the broader national context. The slum redevelopment projects in Jeddah, including the Al-Ruwaiss district, are an integral part of the Saudi Vision 2030 objectives, which aim to improve the quality of life for citizens and residents by providing a safe, healthy, and sustainable urban environment. Historically, some of Jeddah's older neighborhoods developed unplanned, resulting in inadequate infrastructure and dilapidated buildings lacking basic safety standards. The Jeddah Redevelopment Project aims to fundamentally address these challenges, transforming these areas into modern, fully-serviced residential neighborhoods.

Project importance and expected impact

The importance of removing dilapidated buildings extends far beyond mere safety. Locally, the project will enhance Jeddah's aesthetic appeal and pave the way for modern infrastructure, including wider roads, advanced water and sewage networks, and public amenities such as parks, schools, and health centers. Nationally, the success of this project in Jeddah, the gateway to the Two Holy Mosques, serves as a model for other Saudi cities facing similar challenges and reinforces the Kingdom's position as a nation committed to developing its cities according to the highest international standards. These projects are expected to attract significant investments in the real estate and construction sectors, contributing to the diversification of the local economy and the creation of new job opportunities.

It should be noted that these works are an extension of previous plans that have proven successful, as in previous phases 596 buildings that were about to collapse were removed in the Al-Faisaliyah, Al-Rabwa and Al-Farouq neighborhoods, which confirms the continuity and seriousness of the integrated program adopted by the Secretariat to monitor and address all dangerous buildings throughout the governorate.

The Education and Training Evaluation Commission in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced the launch of the fourth round of standardized tests for university and college graduates within the “Readiness” program for 2026. This ambitious program, which is implemented in full cooperation with the Council of University Affairs, comes as a strategic step to measure and ensure the quality of higher education outputs, and raise the level of readiness of Saudi graduates to engage effectively in the evolving labor market.

In its current cycle, the program targets a broad range of students, including approximately 68,000 graduating students, distributed across more than 700 academic programs in 50 Saudi universities and colleges, covering 51 vital university disciplines. These tests are scheduled to take place from February 1st to 17th, 2026, to assess the skills and knowledge students have acquired throughout their academic journey.

A strategic initiative within the Kingdom's Vision 2030

The “Readiness” program cannot be viewed in isolation from the broader national framework. It represents a cornerstone for achieving the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, specifically the Human Capital Development Program. The Vision aims to build a prosperous and diversified economy that relies on the capabilities of its citizens, which necessitates preparing globally competitive citizens equipped with the skills and knowledge required by the 21st century. “Readiness” serves as a precise measurement tool to assess the success of the education system in achieving this goal and to identify areas for improvement to ensure that educational outcomes align with the actual needs of the national economy.

Mechanism of action and expected impact

The standardized tests in “Jahiziyah” are based on meticulously developed specialized frameworks, created in collaboration with experts, academics, and national bodies representing various sectors of the public and private labor market. These frameworks define the minimum knowledge, skills, and values ​​that graduates in each specialization should possess. Thus, the program's benefit extends beyond simply assessing students; it also serves as a powerful diagnostic tool for the academic programs themselves. The results provided by “Jahiziyah” help universities identify strengths in their curricula and areas for improvement, enabling them to develop their study plans and teaching methods to better meet the demands of the labor market.

At the local level, the program is expected to bridge the gap between academic education and practical experience, thereby increasing graduate employment opportunities and reducing the need for companies to provide intensive training programs. At the international level, a unified national system for evaluating graduate quality will enhance the reputation of Saudi universities, improve their global rankings, and make their graduates more competitive in regional and international markets.

In conclusion, the “Readiness” program represents an investment in human capital and reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to continuously developing its educational system to ensure the preparation of a generation that is scientifically and technically distinguished, capable of leading the development process and achieving the nation’s aspirations.