MAKKAH, 14 October 2007 -- The Al-Umran Saudi Association for urban development studies will hold a six-day international forum to discuss the challenges of urban development in Makkah on Nov. 10.
Makkah Governor Prince Khaled Al-Faisal will attend the forum under the theme "The Urban Development in Makkah -- Present and Future," at the Islamic Solidarity Hall of the InterContinental Hotel in Makkah, Salman ibn Turki Al-Sudairy, chairman of the board of directors of the Al-Umran Saudi Association told Arab News yesterday.
The Al-Umran aims at renewing and developing the Islamic constructing culture by documenting and analyzing the buildings and the traditional construction patterns and finding the ways to protect it.
"More than 1,000 experts and researchers in urban studies from the Kingdom and abroad will participate in the event which will also showcase a 4,000-square meter exhibition to highlight the latest construction developments in Makkah worth SR100 billion. The show is expected to draw more than 10,000 visitors. "The forum seeks to shed light on the mammoth urban construction projects in the Kingdom especially at holy places," Al-Sudairy said.
He added that the association organized a number of international forums and expos in various Saudi cities, including Riyadh and Jeddah, over the past few years.
Faisal ibn Muhammad Al-Sharif, president of the organizing committee, said the forum will discuss topics such as the construction at the central zone surrounding the Grand Mosque with special stress on Islamic architectural designing, study in the urban development in Makkah with special consideration for environmental and climatic factors, projects to maintain the power supply, safety and security in the holy city. It will also discuss management of construction establishments and regulations for the construction and structural planning.
Al-Sharif said the forum would also discuss the problems and improvement of the traffic movement including the construction of bridges and tunnels, the pedestrian movement and the constructions at the Al-Jamrat Bridge. They will also discuss projects for the construction of apartments and villas and the accommodation of the ever-increasing pilgrims, Mina tent projects and the utilization of the hilly areas besides the desultory constructions and property developments in Makkah and adjoining areas, he said.
Talal Samarkandi, director of Architectural Lines Company, forum organizer, said several well-known companies involved in building materials, urban development, utilities and tourism industry, communications and financing of housing projects would attend the expo.
© Arab News 2007
