RIYADH: Five investment contracts worth SR1.5 billion ($400 million) were signed by Al-Ahsa municipality to advance a series of development and service projects across the region.
The agreements, concluded in the presence of Al-Ahsa Gov. Prince Saud bin Talal and Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing Majed Al-Hogail, are intended to enhance municipal services and improve quality of life for residents, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The deals cover the development of the Jabal Abu Hsais tourist resort, the construction of a vehicle appraisal center, and the establishment of a periodic vehicle inspection facility. They also include the redevelopment of the King Abdullah Cultural Center and the creation of a date processing factory in Al-Ahsa.
These projects are part of broader efforts to diversify the local economy and attract investment into the governorate, highlighting the strategic importance of the Al-Ahsa region, which spans approximately 379,000 sq. km — about 20 percent of ’s total land area.
Prince Saud stated that these projects represent a fundamental pillar in the region’s comprehensive development strategy, aligning with the leadership’s aspirations to strengthen sustainability in the implementation of strategic plans and to make optimal use of Al-Ahsa’s cultural and economic resources, according to the SPA report.
In addition to the investment contracts, Al-Ahsa municipality signed three memoranda of understanding to implement 11 projects focused primarily on establishing parks and urban enhancements under the “Bahja” project and the Saudi Green Initiative.
The National Housing Co. committed to building eight parks in various locations across Al-Ahsa.
Retal Urban Development, represented by the chief operating officer Yousef Al-Hamoudi, agreed to develop two parks in Al-Badriya district of Hofuf, while Abdullah Al-Abdulqader, board member at Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, pledged to fund a 2,000-sq.-meter park in Al-Asima neighborhood.
Al-Ahsa Mayor Essam Al-Mulla explained that the agreements form part of the municipality’s objectives to serve the community, deliver projects and initiatives that advance development, and establish integration between public and private sectors in pursuit of sustainable growth consistent with Saudi Vision 2030, according to the SPA report.
During the signing ceremony, Prince Saud and the minister inaugurated the “Al-Ahsa: Future and Development” exhibition, which showcased municipal services, infrastructure projects, and quality of life initiatives.
They also handed over residential units to beneficiaries of the developmental housing program in Al-Ahsa.
Building on these initiatives, Al-Ahsa also witnessed a sharp rise in tourism in 2024, with visitor numbers increasing by 500 percent to reach 3.2 million. As a result, total tourist spending exceeded SR3.3 billion, marking a 400 percent increase compared to 2019. These figures highlight the region’s growing appeal and underscore the impact of continued investment in infrastructure and services.
