Urban Planning in Jeddah: Community Engagement and Challenges

This report delves into the critical role of community engagement in urban planning within Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It begins by highlighting the historical context of Jeddah's rapid urban growth and the subsequent challenges faced by local governance in planning and development. The report emphasizes the necessity of community involvement to ensure effective urban planning. It defines community engagement as the active participation of residents in all aspects of urban planning, from identifying needs to generating solutions. The report then explores the importance of community engagement in addressing various urban planning issues, such as housing, transportation, and resource management. It examines best practices, including the example of cladding and infrastructure projects in Jeddah. Furthermore, the report presents a framework for community engagement, illustrating the collaborative efforts required between government, contractors, and the community. It analyzes the challenges of current urban development practices in Jeddah, including a lack of public participation, inadequate urban services, and traffic congestion. Finally, it offers recommendations for improving community engagement to achieve more sustainable and resident-friendly urban development outcomes.

Urban iplanning
i i i i i i iCOMMUNITY iENGAGEMENT iWITH iURBAN iPLANNING iIN iJEDDAH
i i i i i i i i i i iAbstract
i i i i i i i i i i i Saudi iArabia icities iand itowns ihave ibeen iexposed ito icontinuous igrowth isince ithe
ialteration iof ithe icountry's ieconomy idue ito ithe idiscovery iof ioil iin ithe iEastern
iProvince iof ithe iKingdom. iThe igradual idevelopment iwhich ihas ibeen
iaccomplished ihas ibrought iabout ibig ichaos ifor ithe icentral iand ilocal igovernment
iwho iare iin icharge iof iplanning iand ihead iof iurban igrowth. iThe ioccurrence iof
iJeddah iis ione iof ithe imajor icities iin iSaudi iArabia iis ireported ito ihave isuffered ia
igreat iomen iwith iurban iplanning idue ito ilack iof iinvolvement iwith ithe
icommunity. iA icomplication iwith ithe iway iof ithe iplanning isystem iis iknown ias
ithe imajor iproblems iin icontext ito ithe iquality iand iquantity iof iprofessionalism iof
ithe istaff. i
i i i i i i i i i i i iIntroduction
i i i i i i i i i i i i In ithis iresearch, iit iwill ibe iabout icommunity iinvolvement iin iurban iplanning iin
iJeddah iand ihow iit ihas ihelped iJeddah. iUrban iplanning iis ia imajor ithing ito ibe
idone ito iget ithe ibest iout iof ia iplace ilike ia icity. iA icity iis ithe irepresentation iof ia
icountry ihow iit ilooks ilike, iif ithe icity iis inot iappealing ithen iit imeans ithe icountry iis
inot igood. iThe ifirst iimpression ion ieverything itells iyou ia ilot iabout ia iplace ior ia
iproduct. iIf iit iis inot iappealing ito ithe ieyes iyou iwill inot iwant ito ilook iat ithe iproduct
itwice iand ihence iopt-out. iFor ione ito ihave ithe ibest iresults iin iurban iplanning iyou
iwill ihave ito iinvolve ithe icommunity ibecause ithe icommunity iis ithe iones iwho iare
ibeing iaffected. iThe icommunity iis ithe iheart iof iany iurban iplanning itherefore ithey

Urban iplanning
ihave ito iengage ito iget ithe ibest ioutput. iIf ithey iare inot iinvolved ithe iplace iwill ibe ia
itotal idisaster ithat icannot ibe iundone itherefore ileading ito iwastage iof iresources
iand itime. iTime iand iresources iare ivery ilimited ifactors ithat ido inot ineed iwastage
itherefore ithey ihave ito ibe iused ito ithe imaximum.
i i i i i i i i i i iCommunity iengagement iin iurban iplanning
i i i i i i i i i i iDefinition
i i i i i i i i i i iCommunity iengagement iis ithe iact iof imaking ithe icommunity ipart iand iparcel iof
ievery idetail iin iurban iplanning. iThe icommunity ithey iare ithe ipeople iliving iin ia
icertain iplace itherefore ithey ihave ito ibe iconsulted ion ihow ithey iwant itheir itown ito
ibe icreated iand iwhat iis ineeded. iThis iis idue ito ithe icommunity iknowing
ieverything ihence ithey ideserve ito ibe iinvolved ibecause iit iis iwhere ithey ilive.
i i i i i i i i i i i The icommunity iis ithere ito ibe iable ito ishow ithe iconcerned iparties iin iurban
iplanning ithe iway iforward ihence ithey iare ivery ivital iand ithey iknow iall iloopholes
ithat ineed ito ibe isealed ifor ithem ito ihave ia igood itime.
iImportance iin iplanning iissues i
Many iproblems ican icome iup iduring iurban iplanning iand icommunity iengagement itherefore iit iis
inecessary ifor idiminution iof ithe iproblems. iThese imatters iin iquestions iincorporate
icomplications iof ipocket-friendly ihousing, itransport iand ithe iavailability iof ithe inecessary
iresources. iConversely, ichallenges iof ithe ienvironment ilike ihow ithe ienergy iwill ibe iregulated,
iwater, iand iwaste imanagement ito ibe igiven iuttermost iconcern idue ito ithis inot ithought iabout iit
iwill iaffect ithe icommunity inegatively. iAccording ito iWebb iet ial. i(2019), ithe iinvolvement iof ithe
icommunity iin ithe iprocess iof iurban iplanning iis ia igrand iidea ithat icannot ibe ileft iout. iThe
idelegated iparties ican iimprove itheir iplanning iwith ithe iinvolvement iof ithe icommunity ipeople.

Urban iplanning
iThe ipeople iwill ishare ihow itheir iliving iis icurrently iand iwill ienable ithe iconcerned iparties ito
iknow ithe iway iforward. i
If ithe igovernment idoes inot iindulge ithe icommunity ipeople iin itheir iprocess iin iurban iplanning,
ithey iwill imake ia ilot iof iin ibad iresolutions iand ithis iwill imake ithem inot iaccomplish iwhat ithe
icommunity ineeds, itherefore, ibringing iabout ia ilot iof ichaos iin ithe icountry. iThis iin iturn iin iwill
idisgust ithe ipeople, itherefore, iforcing ithem iwariness ithe igovernment iand iit iwill imake ithe
ipeople inot ihappy itherefore ithe iproductivity iof ithe ipeople iwill ireduce igreatly. iOn iseeing ithis,
ithe igovernment iand ithe iassigned iparties iwill ihave ito icommunicate iwith ithe icommunity ito
iknow ithe iway ito igo iabout ihence ithey iwill iknow iwhat ito ido ibecause ithe ipeople iwould ihave itold
ithem iwhat ithey ineed ito ibe idone ifor. iPeople iwill iair iout itheir igrievances iin-depth ihence ithe
iconcerned iparties iwill ihave ito icome iup iwith ithe ibest isolutions ithat iwill iensure ithat ithe ipeople
iof ithe icommunity iare igiven iwhat ithey ineed. iIf iyou icome ito ithink iof iit iwhen ithe igovernment
iand ithe iconcerned iparties iinvolve ithe icommunity ithis iwill ienable ithem ito ihave icloser ibonds
ithereby ithe icommunity iwill ibe iable ito itrust itheir igovernment iin itheir idoings. iThe igovernment
iwill ialso ibe iable ito iunderstand iit’s ipeople ion ia ideeper ilevel ihence igive ithem iwhat ithey iwant.
Best ipractices
Example,
i i
Cladding iextensive iwidening icoerces iand igradual igrowth, iJeddah iit ihired icontractors ito imake
ithe ibest istandards iof iliving ifor ithe ipeople iand imake ithe iplaces ipeople ivisited ito ilook ibeautiful,

Urban iplanning
ithey iincreased ithe iaesthetic ivalue iof ithe iplace. iThe iparties iare igiven ithe iwork iit istudied iand
iremade ifive iof iwhat iappears ias itransportation ipavements iof itake iin iturn ispans iand inature iand
ialso itwo iarchetypal isuburban istreets. iThe iJeddah ilandscape iand iinner-city iblueprint ihandbook
ishows ifuture ievolution ion icorresponding iareas ithroughout ithe icity iwith iblazing iflow iin ithe
iblueprint iof iroadways, ipavements, ipopular ispaces, iand ithe ilocation iand inature iof inew
istructures. iBlueprint iwork iwas idone iin ialliance iwith iHall iPlanning iand iEngineering, iAFM
iConsultants iof iDamman, iSaudi iArabia, iand iCairo-based iEarth ifor iArchitecture iand
iorganization.
They ivisited iJeddah ithree itimes iduring ithe iprocess. iAt ithe ibeginning iof ithe isite ivisit, iDover-
Kohl ithey idid ian iimportant iexamination iof iregional iconditions, ifrom iruling ito iclassic iavenue
isegments, istructure iheights, iand ipopular ispaces, ias iwell ias idriving iand iposition iblueprints. iA
itwelve iday icharrette ifollowed, ithey iorganized ia igroup iof ipeople iwho itoiled iclosely iwith ithe
icity ito idevelop ithe ilandscape iblueprint iand imake ithe icorrect iquality ifor ieach iof ithe ipavements.
iThey ithe icompleted ilandscape iand iinner-city ihandbook iand ithe iinformed itechnical iplans ifor
ithe ipavements iwere ilooked iup iduring ia idraw ito igrant iand iexamination ibusiness iunit.
The ilandscape iand iinner-city ihandbook iblueprint iis ithe ifirst iimplementation ilackey ifor
iattaining ithe iinventiveness ifor ichanging iJeddah’s istreets. i iStraightforward iand iunderstandable
igraphic iorders iare iengage ifor ia inumber iof iavenue’s iblueprint ielements ithat ihelp italk imore
iabout iquality ipopular iposition. iQualities iinclude iblueprint isubstructure ifor iautomotive ivoyage
ilanes, imovement iprovision, isidewalks, ilandscaping, ilighting, isignage iand istructure ifrontage
ithat iaspect iavenue. iThe ihandbook iis iintended ifor iuse iby ithe iinner-city, icivil iengineers,
iarchitects, icontractors, idevelopers iand iother iparties iwho ihelp ito iplan inew iavenue, imake ibetter

Urban iplanning
ithe iexisting iavenues, imodernize iexisting istructure iand iconstruct inew istructures. iBy iput idown
ithe iautomobile ikingdom, ithe iwalker ikingdom, iand ithe iexclusive isphere, ithe ihandbook
iestablishes ia inew ipattern ifor iinner-city iblueprint iin iJeddah ifocused ion ibalancing ithe ineeds iof
iall imodes iof itravel. i iThe ioccurring iwith ipractical ischeme ito ispecify ithe imodernization iof igreat
iavenues iand ithe iexact ipositions iof ilandscape ielements isuch ias istation ispaces iand iconifer
iplacing. iFor ithe isafety iof itravel ifor ithe ikings iand iroyal ifamilies, ithey ihad ito iput iup ispecified
ithings ito iensure ithat ithey ihad isafe ipassage itherefore ithey icannot ibe iharmed iby ianyone.
The iframework iof iCommunity iengagement
diagram
task
Government iand icontractors community
Plans iand iobjectives Ideas iand iresolutions i
Evaluate iand ireview iof iwhat iis isupposed ito ibe idone
implementation

Urban iplanning
Conclusion iof ithe idiagram
Form ithe idiagram iabove iwe ican inote ithat ithe itasks ihave ito ibe idone iby ia iunited iforce ithat iis ithe
igovernment iand ithe ipeople ihave ito icome itogether ias ione ito iaccomplish iwhatever itask ithey iare
igiven.
So iwe ican isee ifrom ithe idiagram ithat ithe igovernment iand ithe icontractors ihave itheir iideas iof
ihow ito imake ithe iplace ibetter ifor ieveryone ibut ithe icommunities iwill ihave imore ito isay. iWhen
ithey icombine iefforts iboth ithe icommunity iand ithe igovernment, ithe icontractors, iyou iwill ifind
ithat ithey iwill ihave igreat iideas ithat iwill ibenefit iboth ithe igovernment iand ithe icommunity ihence
ithis iwill ibring iabout ia ibetter iplace ito istay iin. iThe ipeople iare ithe iones iwho igive ithe igovernment
ipowers itherefore ithey ihave ito isubdue ito itheir idemands ifor ithem ito ienjoy ithe igovernment ithat
ithey ichose ito igovern ithem. iTherefore ithe iprocess iof iurban iplanning itakes itime ifor iit ito ibe
iimplemented idue ito iit ihas ito ipass ithrough ia ilot iof ichannels.
Community iengagement iin iJeddah
a. iBackground
Jeddah iis ia imajor iurban iregion iin iSaudi iArabia iand ithe isecond-largest icity iof ithe icountry. iThis
icity ihas ibeen ithrough iso imany idevelopment iprojects iover ithe iyears isince ithe idiscovery iof ioil.
iThe imain icargo iworkstation iand ithe ilargest iairport iin iSaudi iArabia icalled iKing iAbdul iAziz
iInternational iAirport. iMany iinfluential ilike ithe ihajji ipilgrims ipass ithrough ihere iand ithey ineed
itight isecurity iand iproper iinfrastructure ithat iis iworld-class istandard ibut ithey ipass ithrough imere
iinfrastructure. iIt ihas ipoor iinfrastructure iand ithis idue ito ithe igovernment inot iinvolving ithe
icommunity ion ithe iway iforward ithey ionly ithink ifor ithemselves iwhich iis inot igood. iMinimal
iurban iservices, iquire iprices iof iland iand ihuge icosts iof iconstruction ihave icaused ithe
idevelopment iof islums ithat ihave ideteriorated ithe iquality iof iurban iareas. iSlums ihave idestroyed
ithe ilook iof ithe icity igreatly.
iUrban iissues iand iexisting ipractice
The igovernment iof iJeddah ihas iinvested imany iresources ifor imaking iit ia ilarger iand isustainable
icity. iAt ipresent, iapproximately i3.5 imillion ipeople iare iliving iin ithis icity iand iit ihas ibecome ia
imodern icity. iHowever, ithere iare igaps iin ithe iurban idevelopment iprocess iof ithe igovernment iand
idue ito ithis ireason; ithe ienvironment iof ithis iplace iis ivery ipoor. iApproximately ihalf iof ia isquare
imeter ipublic iopen ispace iis iavailable ifor ieach iperson. iCommunity ipeople iof ithis iplace ido inot
iget isufficient iaccess ito ihealthcare iservices. iOnly i22.5 ibeds ion iaverage iare iavailable iper i1000

Urban iplanning
ipeople. iTraffic ijams iare ivery icommon iin ithis icity iand ithere iis ino ipublic itransportation isystem.
iThe icurrent igovernment isystem iis inot icapable iof imeeting iminimum iurban iservices iin iterms iof
ihealthcare, ieducation, iroads, iwater isupply, itransportation, iand iothers. iPrevious iurban
idevelopment iplanning ihas inot iconsidered ipublic iparticipation iand ithis ifact iprevented ithese
iprojects ito iget iexpected ioutcomes. i i i i i
At ipresent, ipublic iparticipation iis ivery iless iin ithis icity iregarding iurban iplanning. iThe ifederal
igovernment icontrols ithe iprocess iof idevelopment ithrough ithe itool iof ibudgeting. iLocal
imunicipalities iare iprovided iwith ian iadequate ibudget, iwhich idepends ion ithe ipopulation iof ithe
iregion iand irequirements iof ithe iproject. iAdministrative icontrol iof ithe iallocated iprojects iis iin ithe
ihands iof iMOMRA i(Ministry iof imunicipal iand irural iaffairs). iPublic iparticipation iis ivery iless iin
idevelopment iplans iand ieverything iis imanaged iby igovernment ibodies. iLess iinvolvement iof
icommunity iresults iin iinappropriate iplanning iand idifferent ineeds iof ithe ilocal icommunity
icannot ibe imet. iPlanning iof iurban idevelopment iis igenerally imanaged iby ithe iministry iof
ieconomy iand iplanning. iAl ibeea's iplan iis ithe ilatest iurban idevelopment iplan idesigned iin i2005.
iThe imain igoals iof ithis iurban idevelopment iplan iinclude imaking iJeddah ia isustainable icity iby
iproviding ia igood iphysical ienvironment iand iusing iresources iproperly. iAnother igoal iof ithis
iproject iis ito imake ithis icity ia igood iplace ifor iliving iby iimproving ithe ipublic iservices iand
ihousing iprocess. iThe imain iintention iof ithis iplan iis ito iaccommodate iapproximately i4.6 imillion
iresidents iby ithe iend iof i2030. iThis iplan ialso ilacks iproper iplanning iand iprocedures ilike
iconducting iworkshops iwith ilocal iagencies.
i
Challenges iof iCommunity iengagement
In iJeddah, ithere iare iso imany iproblems ifaced iin iurban iplanning
iLack iof iknowledge iand ieducation iof icommunity ipeople iare icommon iproblems ifacing ithem.
iThe igovernment ihas inot iprovided ienough ilearning iinstitutions ihence ia ilot iof ipeople ilack
ieducation. iTherefore ipeople iwho iare inot ieducated iit iis ihard ifor ione ito iinvolve ithem iin iurban
iplanning iprocesses. i

Urban iplanning
The igovernment iand iconcerned iparties iconstantly itend ito ihave ifailed iprojects iand iwhatever
ithey ido iis inot itrustworthy ihence ipeople ihave ilost itrust iin ithe igovernment. iIt iis ia imajor
ichallenge ito iinfluence ithese ipeople ito itrust ithe igovernment. iThe igovernment iofficers ineed
ito icommunicate iwith ithese ipeople ito imake ithem iunderstand ithe iimportance iof itheir
iinvolvement iin iurban iplanning.
There iwere iso imany ibad ithings ithat ithe igovernment idoes ihence ithis ihas iaffected ithe ipeople iand
imaking ithem ivery ipoor. iMany ienvironmental ihazards ihave iemerged. iPeople ifight iwith ithese
ihazards iin itheir idaily ilife iand ithey ihave ino ispace ito ibe iinvolved iin iurban iplanning. iIt imay ibe ia
ibig ichallenge ifor ithe igovernment ito iprotect icommunity ipeople ifrom ithese ihazards iand
imotivate ithem ito iparticipate iin iurban iplanning. i i i i
iSelf-Recommendations
Conducting iworkshops iand icollecting ifeedback ithrough ithe iinternet ican ibe irecommended
iin ithis icase. iKnowledge iabout ithe iongoing iprojects iand iplanning ican ibe iincreased iamong ithe
ilocal icommunity ithrough ithe ihelp iof iworkshops. iMoreover, iStewart iand iLithgow i(2015) istated
ithat ithe iinternet iis ia icost-effective itool, iwhich ican ibe iused ito icollect iinformation iand ifeedback
iabout iurban idevelopment.
Cartography iis ianother iessential itool ithat ican ibe iused iby ithe inetwork iweaver ior iplanner ifor
ithe icreation iof ian iurban iplan. iThe iland iuse ican ibe idivided iproperly; iessential ifeedback ifrom
ithe icommunity ican ibe igained iwith ithe ihelp iof ithis itool. iBesides, iit iis iessential ito iobtain
ifeedback iirrespective iof iage, irace, iand iculture. i
Conclusion i
It ican ibe iconcluded ithat ithe iengagement iof ithe ilocal icommunity iis ian iessential istep ifor iurban
iplanning. iCommunity iis ian iessential istakeholder iin ithe iplanning iprocess ias ithey iact ias ia ikey
isource iof iinformation. iThe iproposed iframework ican ibe iused ito iinvolve idifferent igroups iof ia
icommunity. iJeddah iis ia ipopular iand ilargest icity iin iSaudi iArabia, iwhich ihas iinitiated idifferent
iplans ifor idevelopment. iHowever, iimproper iplanning iand ilack iof icommunity iengagement ihave

Urban iplanning
ifailed ithose iplans. iRecommendations, ilike iconducting iworkshops iand iimplementing ia itool ilike
icartography, ican ihelp ito iincrease iknowledge iabout iurban idevelopment iprojects iamong ithe
ilocal icommunity. iIn ireturn, ivarious iessential iinputs iand ineeds iof ithe ilocal icommunity ican ibe
iknown. i
The iapproach iof iIniciativa iUrbana i‘Arrabales-Carreterías’ iproject ican ibe iconsidered iin icase iof
iengaging icommunity ipeople iin iurban iplanning. i
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i

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i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i
i i i i i i i i i i i i