SAUDI IND jeddah.qxd 1/2/11 13:12 Página 1 World Report 10 FEBRUARY 2011 JEDDAH The star of Saudi Arabia PART ONE THIS SUPPLEMENT WAS PRODUCED BY WORLD REPORT INTERNATIONAL LTD, WHO ARE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONTENT SAUDI IND jeddah.qxd 1/2/11 15:54 Página 2 JEDDAH A modern, urban city exemplifies change Jeddah, the most dynamic city in Saudi Arabia, has taken major, positive strides in its social, economic and educational reforms he second largest city in Saudi Ara- need to engage with the modern world, and bia, Jeddah exemplifies the changes – as long as its Islamic values are not com- that have been taking place during promised – for Saudi Arabia itself to mod- Tthe five-year reign of King Abdullah ernise. Positive steps have been taken to lib- bin Abdulaziz. Located in the Province of eralise and diversify the economy. Just over Makkah, which also contains the holy cities four months after his accession, Saudi Ara- of Makkah and Medina, Jeddah is Saudi Ara- bia became a full member of the World Trade bia’s most modern and cosmopolitan urban Organisation, opening up the economy to centre, and is undergoing a construction foreign investors. boom that reflects the massive and ongoing Reform measures continue to be implement- economic expansion of the desert state in re- ed, although the state retains strong control cent years. of economic activity. State spending is the King Abdullah ascended to the throne in most powerful driver of the economy, which 2005, but has effectively been running the is forecast to grow by 4.2 per cent in 2011, country since 1995 when his predecessor, after 3.8 per cent growth last year. King Ab- King Fahd, was incapacitated by a stroke. dullah’s government has budgeted to spend He has recognised the need to engage with more than $68 billion dollars (£42.6 billion) the modern world and for Saudi Arabia it- this year, the equivalent of 15 per cent of self to modernise, and has overseen a range GDP. In the four-year period 2010-2014, a of economic, social, education and health total of some $373 billion is to be spent on projects that are gradually changing the face social development and infrastructure pro- of the kingdom. jects to boost economic development. Six new King Abdullah rules over one of the world’s economic mega cities are to be built, includ- most strategically important countries. Sau- ing King Abdullah Economic City, current- di Arabia is the world’s largest exporter of ly under construction at Rabigh just 60 miles petroleum, controlling a fifth of the world’s north of Jeddah. oil supply. For Britain and the United States, The opening in 2009 of the King Abdul- the kingdom is a key ally in one of the most lah University of Science and Technology – volatile and potentially dangerous parts of Saudi Arabia’s first mixed gender universi- the world. Saudi Arabia plays a vital role in ty – marked the realisation of the King’s vi- the maintenance of regional security and the sion to initiate a new era of scientific and fight against terrorism, and is also an im- economic progress in the kingdom. The uni- portant trading partner, particularly in the versity is intended to act as a catalyst for defence market. transforming Saudi Arabia into a knowl- Saudi Arabia is the most traditional and edge-based economy and to become one of conservative of Arab states, a country where the world’s great research institutions. religious principles are fundamental to the The new Princess Noura Bint Abdulrah- conduct of political, economic and social man University in Riyadh, which is due to life. As Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, open a new campus in 2012, will accommo- the King draws his authority from Islam, the date up to 40,000 students and is designed established religion, rather than any secu- to become the largest women-only universi- lar source. ty in the world. In the modern global economy, howev- On the diplomatic front, King Abdullah has er, no country can prosper in isolation and worked for resolution of the Israel-Palestine no economy can grow without change. Sau- conflict through the Arab Peace Initiative, di Arabia is no more immune to the chal- based on a plan he presented to the Beirut lenge of new problems and the need to find Arab Summit in 2002. He has also sought solutions than anywhere else. In the long to resolve conflicts in the Arab and Islamic term, oil is a dwindling resource and Sau- world and promoted dialogue between fol- di Arabia will need to find new sources of lowers of different religions; his call for in- income. More immediately, it has a rapid- terfaith dialogue led to the World Confer- ly growing population and needs to create ence on Dialogue in Madrid in 2008 and a jobs for its young people. King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, a firm believer in multicultural dialogue, and the World United Nations conference in New York the King Adbullah, who is also the Prime Min- Muslim League extended an invitation to Rabbi Arthur Schneier of the Park East Synagogue, pictured same year. ister, is a reformer who has recognised the above, to speak at an Inter-Religious conference held in Madrid, Spain, from July 16-18, 2008 First in the line of succession to King 2 World Report SAUDI IND jeddah.qxd 1/2/11 13:12 Página 3 JEDDAH Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense and Aviation, laid the foundation stone on January 11 for the new King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah Abdullah is Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz, The new airport will facilitate the arrival Prince Khalid Al Faisal. Appointed in 2007, JEDDAH PROJECT TEAM who has held the position of Deputy Prime and departure of the increasing numbers of the Prince was formerly Governor of Asir Project Director: Idil Demirel Minister since 2005. The Crown Prince is pilgrims travelling to the holy city of Makkah in southwestern Saudi Arabia, where he Editorial Director: also Minister of Defence and Aviation and for the annual Hajj; the officially announced played a major role in the development of Juan Manuel Sacristán Inspector-General. number of pilgrims last year was 2.8 mil- the region. He also holds the rank of Min- Project Assistant: Alla Ilushka In an earlier role, as Minister of Trans- lion, although large numbers of illegal pil- ister within the Royal Government of Sau- portation, Prince Sultan made an important grims also attend. di Arabia. This supplement was produced for The contribution to the development of the king- It will also support the comprehensive de- Internationally recognised as an artist, Independent by World Report dom’s roads and telecommunications network. velopment of the holy city, for which a 20- poet and patron of the arts, Prince Al-Faisal International Ltd, who are solely He oversaw the construction of the Arabian year development plan involving investment established the Arab Thought Foundation responsible for the content. Peninsula’s only railway system, linking of around $26 billion is currently being fi- in 2002 and the Cultural Council of Makkah World Report International Ltd is not Dammam with Riyadh, and he continues to nalised for King Abdullah’s approval. in 2008. He is also managing director of connected or associated with any be involved with transportation in the king- The Governor of Makkah Province is the King Faisal Foundation, one of the company registered in the United dom as chairman of the Saudi Arabian Rail- largest philanthropic and charitable organ- Kingdom bearing the same or similar ways Organisation and chairman of the na- isations in the world, and in 2010 was name. tional carrier, Saudi Arabian Airlines. picked as Leading Personality of the Year As Minister of Defence and Aviation, a po- by the World Travel Awards in recognition FOR MORE INFORMATION sition he has held since 1963, the Crown of his efforts to develop religious tourism CONTACT: Prince has played a key role in building up and his pioneering work for the Foundation. World Report International Ltd, and modernising Saudi Arabia’s armed forces. The Prince has declared that the aim of 35 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, Known for his humanitarian and philan- the development plan is to make Makkah London SW3 1DE thropic interests, in 1995 he established the one of the most beautiful, civilised and ad- Tel: +44 20 7629 6213 Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Charity Foun- vanced cities in the world. “Our dream for [email protected] dation, which supports socially beneficial Makkah is taking shape,” he says. “It is projects in medicine, science, technology not a mirage in the World Report would like to thank and education. desert or an out- the following for their support in the On January 11, Prince Sultan laid the landish aspiration, realisation of this report: Prince foundation stone for a huge new King Ab- but a real, heart- dulaziz International Airport in Jed- pounding rhythm of Khalid Al Faisal (Governor of dah. The $7.2 billion development, part progress seen and heard ris- Makkah Region), Dr Abdulaziz of a comprehensive programme to ing up from the sands.” ● Alkhedheiri (Deputy Minister of develop Saudi Arabia’s domestic Makkah Region), Haitham O Ja- airports, will increase KAIA’s ca- mal Allail, Sheikh Mohammed pacity to 35 million passengers an- Saeed, Serhat Ozalpi, Waleed A Al nually and raise its profile as an aviation hub linking east and west. Hamoudi and Ghassan Al Abdali Prince Khalid Al Faisal, Governor of Makkah Province has a vision to This report can also be make the city of Makkah, which is read online: roughly 50 miles from Jeddah, one www.worldreport-ind.com of the most beautiful in the world World Report 3 SAUDI IND jeddah.qxd 1/2/11 13:13 Página 4 JEDDAH Jeddah The bride of the Red Sea and gateway to the Holy Mosques here are many theories as to how which the majority of pilgrims arrive by long Jeddah has been inhabited – air and sea to perform Umrah, Hajj or to some archaeological studies sug- simply visit the two Holy Mosques.