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 second edition of the Space Debris Conference, organized by the Saudi Space Agency, kicked off today, Monday, in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. The two-day event features broad international participation, including experts and officials from 75 countries, as well as representatives from international organizations and leading companies in the space sector, all aiming to unite efforts to address one of the greatest challenges threatening the future of space activities.

Historical background: A growing problem in Earth's orbit

Since the launch of the first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, in 1957, near-Earth space has seen a dramatic increase in the number of man-made objects. Space debris consists of defunct satellites, rocket launch vehicle parts, and fragments resulting from collisions or breakup. These objects, numbering in the hundreds of thousands, orbit Earth at tremendous speeds of up to 28,000 kilometers per hour, making even the smallest piece capable of causing catastrophic damage to operational satellites or crewed spacecraft. Scientists warn of the Kessler syndrome, a hypothetical scenario in which a single collision could trigger a chain reaction, creating a cloud of debris that would render low Earth orbit unusable for decades.

The importance of the conference and its expected impact

In his opening remarks, the Acting CEO of the Saudi Space Agency, Dr. Mohammed Al-Tamimi, sounded the alarm, emphasizing that near-Earth space is witnessing a “rapid increase in the number of orbiting objects,” which poses growing challenges to the safety and sustainability of space operations. Al-Tamimi pointed out that addressing this challenge requires strengthening international cooperation and developing innovative and effective solutions to mitigate risks and ensure a safe space environment for future generations.

The conference holds strategic importance as a global platform for solidifying Saudi Arabia's position as a key player in space sustainability. By bringing together decision-makers and experts, the Kingdom aims to lead the international dialogue on the policies and legislation necessary for managing space debris, aligning with the ambitious goals of Vision 2030 to diversify the economy and enhance its role in the multi-billion-dollar global space economy.

Topics of discussion and international cooperation

The conference, held with the support of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and in partnership with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), will discuss several key themes, including space sustainability, protecting the space economy, and unifying international efforts. It will also highlight technological innovations and operational solutions for addressing risks and showcase successful international partnerships in this field. A highlight of the conference is the “DebrisSolver” competition, an international platform designed to stimulate applied innovation and transform research ideas into practical, actionable solutions. This international collaboration reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to shared responsibility and its support for global efforts to ensure the continuity of space activities, upon which the world depends for communications, navigation, and climate monitoring.