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KSA Development 53
research into waste management and water
treatment and a genetic engineering
program to improve palm tree productivity
and quality in Madinah.
The Theme Park in the KEC is being
designed to give visitors of all ages,
interests and cultural backgrounds an
unforgettable virtual tour into the history of
the Prophet’s heritage and Islamic
civilization. It will include the lives of the
prophets, the legacy of Prophet
Muhammad, the dynasties of Islamic
civilizations and the contribution of
Muslim civilization to world knowledge.
According to SAGIA, all activities in the
theme park are using the latest multimedia,
laser and digital technologies.
The Residential Zone will also have major
retail area in the style of Madinah’s historic
souks. The architecture of the surrounding
dwellings, among which are to be two villa
complexes as well as furnished apartments,
will be equally traditional. Much of the area
will be pedestrianized with pleasant
PROJECT FACTSHEET:
outdoor spaces. There will also be a hotel
complex with a convention center and a
multipurpose hall.
Transportation within KEC will be
facilitated via a ring road above which rises
a monorail connecting the city to
neighboring Grand Mosque of Madinah
within minutes. This monorail will be
tethered to the planned train station thus
tapping into the railway access to Makkah,
Yanbou, the King Abdullah Economic City
as well as the port city of Jeddah.
SAGIA played a pivotal role in the
conceptualization of the project. 'The King's
vision to develop an economic city based
on KBI is a forward looking step and the
development will boost the region's
chances to attract investments hoped to
overhaul services in Madinah,' commented
Amr Dabbagh, governor of SAGIA.
"This vital project falls well within plans to
upgrade the Kingdom's regions in a
sustainable fashion taking into
• Twenty five billion Riyals (USD 7 Bill) of direct investment for
developing the project
• Twenty thousand new job opportunities
• An expected population of two hundred thousand persons
• The project can accommodate up to thirty thousands visitors
• Project land area of 4.8 mil. Sq. meters
• Total build area of 9 mil. Sq. meters
consideration each region's competitive
advantages. Given Madinah's historic
stance as the launch pad of Islamic culture
by Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) more than
14 centuries ago, the KEC project is a
renaissance of sorts as Madinah will be
used to launch the knowledge-based
industries," added Dabbagh.
Governor Amr Dabbagh pointed out
that the three economic cities launched to
date by SAGIA are in line with its
strategy to promote investments into the
country's sectors that propose the best
competitive advantages, namely, energy,
transportation, and KBI. The first
economic city launched December 2005 in
Rabegh (the King Abdullah Economic
City) focused on promoting energy- and
transportation-related industries, while the
second economic city launched last week
in Hayel (the Prince AbdulAziz bin
Mousaed Economic City) is designed
around transportation and related logistical
services. This latest city in Madinah captures
the essence of SAGIA's third focus,
knowledge-based industries (KBI),
concluded Dabbagh.
The Knowledge Economic City project is a
culmination of efforts by a group of leading
Saudi companies to develop an economic
city to the east of Madinah that is planned
to become an international KBI icon.
The total built up area will reach 8.8 million
m2 including 4,000 stores and
30,000 residential units that will house
200,000 inhabitants.
Supply Chain & Logistics Group | www.sclgme.org