Over 100 historical Islamic sites to be renovated in Madinah
The projects will be driven by the Tourist Destination Development Office with an aim to complete the renovations by 2025
An initiative to renovate historic Islamic sites in Madinah has been launched by Prince Faisal bin Salman, Emir of Madinah and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Regional Development Authority. The projects are being implemented in more than 100 sites linked to the Prophet’s biography and Islamic history.
The Tourist Destination Development Office under the Regional Development Authority is responsible for following up on the completion of these projects within the approved timeline of 2025, a statement said.
The launch ceremony was held in the presence of Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, and Deputy Minister of Culture Hamed Fayez. Prince Faisal also inaugurated eight sites whose development has already been completed including: Al-Ghamama Mosque, Al-Soqya Mosque, Al-Raya Mosque, Abu Bakr Siddiq Mosque, Omar bin Khattab Mosque, Bani Anif Mosque, Gharas well, and Fort of Urwa bin Al-Zubayr.
In April 2021, KEC signed an agreement to be the development manager for the Madinah Gate project and, in November 2021, it was announced that Makkah and Madinah real estate was open to foreign investment.
During the ceremony the Emir witnessed the signing of contracts, agreements and memoranda of understanding between the Regional Development Authority and a number of government and private agencies to develop and revive historical sites. These included the design and implementation of the Sayyid Al-Shuhada Square site, the Saqifa of Bani Saad (west of the Prophet’s Mosque), the Khandaq site, the development of Qiblatain Mosque and the surrounding area, and the Othman bin Affan well.
At the ceremony, Prince Faisal bin Salman praised the level of performance and coordination between government agencies, to realise the objectives of projects to develop historical sites.
According to the statement, the Mayor of Madinah Eng. Fahd Al-Bolaihashi was briefed on the plan to develop the historical sites, especially the historic Badr neighborhood. The plan is said to include the development of a path that covers more than 40 historical landmarks; it stretches for 175km, starting from Madinah, passing through the Al-Areesh Mosque and the Al-Rawhaa area and a number of sites linked to the most important events in the Prophet’s biography in Badr region.
In October 2022, His Royal Highness Mohammed bin Salman launched the Saudi Downtown Company to develop key areas in 12 cities.
