The Arbaeen Lagoon waterfront development project in Historic Jeddah has finished its first phase of development. This is a component of the Historic Jeddah Revitalization Programme, whose work began early last year and was initiated by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman in 2021. The historic area will receive fresh life with the development of the Arbaeen lagoon shoreline, which will have open gardens and green areas.
The project's first phase involved demolishing the infrastructure and basic amenities to make way for the second phase of development work, which is scheduled to start in the first quarter of 2024. Re-excavating the space filled in during the last few decades due to urban growth, building a pier, and enhancing water quality are all part of it.
The goal of the waterfront development project, which is part of the larger Historic Jeddah Revitalization project, is to restore seawater to the old Punt port in the most natural state possible, paying particular attention to the port's significant historical significance that spans thousands of years and its fundamental influence on Jeddah, its people, and their culture. The lagoon's form has already changed as a result of areas surrounding it being filled in for construction purposes, resulting in a significant gap between the port and the ocean.
The project's objectives are to bring the sea back to the port, create an integrated environment with access to natural features (such as five-kilometer-long seafronts), and construct the infrastructure and tools required to make this possible. This is in addition to establishing a sustainable environment around the waterfront, which serves as a tributary of the economy, a desirable commercial destination, and a platform for artistic and cultural endeavours.
The project is part of a larger plan to develop the waterfront area, which includes new hotel and residential neighbourhoods north and south of the lagoon, markets, and eateries that will help build a sustainable residential and commercial community. The plan also includes the marina area, also known as a yacht marina.
