The Eastern Province Secretariat has unveiled the most prominent pioneering and exemplary investment projects it has launched at the municipal level in collaboration with its partners from various ministries and the Eastern Province Development Authority, with the aim of achieving the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 by developing the investment system, increasing revenue, and achieving financial sustainability, supporting quality of life, humanizing cities, improving the urban landscape, implementing the concept of smart cities, preserving the environment, and promoting sports to transform the region into a premier leisure destination in the Gulf due to its unique and strategic geographic location among the Gulf states, and the Eastern Province’s significance as a tourist destination within the Kingdom’s tourism strategy—a region that combines the sea, beaches, industry, and green oases.
The Secretary of the Eastern Province, Engineer Fahd bin Mohammed Al-Jubeir, stated that investment projects will soon be launched through the Saudi Entertainment Company, a subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund, in both Dammam and Al-Khobar, as part of the “SEVEN” package of Saudi entertainment projects in the Eastern Province, announced by the Saudi Entertainment Projects Company as new infrastructure for the region’s entertainment sector—which will make it the premier entertainment destination in the Gulf.Dammam will host the first of these investment projects with the development of entertainment complexes on the Al-Hamra Corniche—the first entertainment complex in the Eastern Province, located on the Dammam Corniche, where the site was strategically selected, As for the second entertainment complex in Al-Khobar, it is situated on the city’s waterfront, and this location is significant in providing entertainment options and a service area for residents and visitors to Al-Khobar.
Engineer Al-Jubeir stated that among the investment projects is the “King Fahd Suburb Boulevard in Dammam,” which is the first model investment project for the development of roads, facilities, and municipal parks in partnership with the Spending Efficiency Authority and the Quality of Life Program. Spanning more than 600,000 square meters, it supports tourism and entertainment activities, which will contribute to a qualitative leap in Dammam. Additionally, a contract was signed for the “Salsabil Park Investment Project,” which is the first investment project to be implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Sports in the Eastern Province, in partnership with the Sports for All Federation, with the aim of encouraging sports activities in public parks and recreational areas for families and individuals. It will mark the beginning of investments in parks and recreational areas to promote the concept ofof cities.
Engineer Al-Jubeir also addressed the signing of the investment contract for the Ajyal Walk Center in Dhahran (Ajyal Walk), which will feature complexes housing cafes, restaurants, green spaces, a fountain, and other facilities supporting recreation and tourism in Dhahran. An investment project was also launched in Dhahran (Dhahran Boulevard within the Ajyal Master Plan) to boost economic activity through the implementation of a diverse project featuring shopping centers, stores, and entertainment venues. In addition, the Kingdom’s first model investment project was launched to develop the Al-Khobar Corniche along the waterfront by constructing a marina, hotels, cafes, and various recreational activities, noting that the project is part of joint investment agreements in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance, the National Privatization Center, and the Quality of Life and Recreation Program. The project will support Al-Khobar’s bid to be ranked among the world’s top 100 cities, It will be built on an area of 70,000 square meters at an estimated cost of more than 800 million riyals to be funded by the investor, In addition, the first investment project in partnership with the Ministry of Culture—titled “The Pulse of Al-Khobar”—will be launched in collaboration with the Eastern Province Development Authority. Located in downtown Al-Khobar, it will nurture talent and support activities in the culinary arts, visual and performing arts, music, literature, and other art forms, while promoting quality of life, tourism, and entertainment. His Excellency noted that the project will be built on an area of more than 50,000 square meters.
He highlighted the implementation of the first model investment project based on the “Standard Beach” concept to apply Blue Flag standards in partnership with the Eastern Province Development Authority to improve beaches in line with global environmental standards. This project will be built covering an area of more than 80,000 square meters, in addition to preparations for the launch of the first platform for diving and water sports in partnership with the Saudi Federation for Water Sports and Diving.
He noted that the investment advertising plan for organizing interactive digital billboards has been finalized. It includes advertisements on buildings, streets, public transportation, and buses; wrapping of buildings under construction; private building signage; and the implementation of innovative interactive billboards, whichsupport the improvement of the urban landscape in the region, the realization of the smart cities concept, and the enhancement of quality of life, Meanwhile, investment contracts worth 1.3 billion were signed for the smart parking project to support the smart cities concept—one of the largest investment contracts in the municipal sector—which promotes efficient spending and quality of life. An investment contract was also signed to establish a plant for thesolid waste from buildings in Dammam to support environmental safety and waste treatment. A project was also launched to recycle tires and food waste to support and preserve the environment, as well as preparations for launching an investment project involving plans for factories, transportation, and other sectors to develop infrastructure, services, and facilities.
He noted that these initiatives and investment projects are an extension of the Secretariat’s efforts, in cooperation with relevant authorities and the private sector, to achieve financial sustainability and engage the private sector in development, which will bring about a qualitative leap in the tourism, recreation, and lifestyle landscape of the Eastern Province and contribute to the realization of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 initiatives and the Fiscal Balance Program in advancing development and services in the region.