Securing a sustainable future for Jeddah

A series of new plans is set to guide the long-term resilience and sustainable growth of the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah by accommodating growth, generating employment, and improving streetscapes and the quality of the built and natural environment.

Called the Jeddah Plans, the documents are designed to shape the city over the coming 20 years. Work on these plans was prompted by a storm that caused widespread damage and loss of life. The extent of destruction was exacerbated by a history of haphazard and informal development, and by the poor quality of the city’s infrastructure. As the principal gateway to the holy city of Mecca and a key urban hub in the Middle East, Jeddah has experienced unprecedented growth in the past five decades and anticipates that its population of four million people will increase to six million in the coming two decades.

In partnership with Jeddah Municipality, also known as Amana Mohafeza Jeddah, AECOM has worked to reverse current development trends, and delivered a series of plans that will redefine the city’s future character. This will be achieved by creating a sequence of well-designed and well-served centers that enable residents, especially women, to benefit from improved access to amenities, jobs and public transportation.

At the heart of this work are four spatial planning documents that range from a high-level strategic plan encompassing the municipality’s vision, mission and development strategy, to detailed development strategy and local area plans.

The suite of plans provides an integrated and holistic approach to long-term growth and sustainable economic development.

A sequence of well-designed and well-served centers that enable residents, especially women, to benefit from improved access to amenities, jobs, and public transportation.