He mentions that it is difficult for him to buy the old buildings in the cities of Dammam and Khobar. He mentions that he faced great difficulty in reaching some of the owners, and even when he manages to do so, he finds that the prices are exaggerated, lack of seriousness in selling, or that the building is owned by several people (heirs) in most cases, which requires great effort to negotiate and reach a decision, and often does not happen.

Sadly, the victim is the one who is often in a deteriorating state of urbanization. <Unfortunately, the first victim in such cases is the quality of the urban environment, whether in the residential neighborhood or in the vital axes in which these abandoned buildings are located, which leads to multiple negative effects: Reduced value of neighboring properties, distorted urban image, reduced sense of security and belonging, exploitation of these sites by weak-minded people that threaten public safety, and finally the migration of residents from the neighborhood.

Remedressing these buildings is the best way to improve the quality of the urban environment, whether in a residential neighborhood or in vital hubs. <Tackling these buildings brought to mind an international experience I recently came across, that of Liverpool City Council in the United Kingdom, which published a story about taking practical steps to address the issue of vacant housing. As part of its efforts to provide affordable housing, the municipality reported a decision to increase taxes on empty housing units that have been vacant for more than 12 months.

As part of its efforts to provide affordable housing, the municipality reported a decision to increase taxes on empty housing units that have been vacant for more than 12 months. <It noted that long-term vacant homes deteriorate, become a nuisance, disfigure communities, and give the impression of neglect, which is unfair to residents. In contrast, repurposing these units not only increases the supply of affordable housing, but also fosters a sense of pride and belonging for residents, reduces crime, and revitalizes local businesses. <The Council of Ministers recently issued a decision to amend the White Land Fees Law, with the aim of balancing the real estate market and increasing the efficiency of utilizing unused land and buildings. The most prominent of these amendments is the imposition of new fees on vacant properties that are left for long periods of time without an acceptable justification, as this has a negative impact on the abundant supply in the real estate market.

There is no doubt that this wise decision, and other related decisions, will, God willing, contribute to addressing such issues and will positively reflect on improving the quality of urban life in all cities of the Kingdom, by reducing urban waste and stimulating the activation of idle real estate assets.

Developer Empowerment Phase. “The stage of empowering developers and removing stagnant ones” I like this quote from a real estate activist.

Urban Planning Expert