Dissertation_Dr Faisal Almubarak

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the suspension or the loss of the proposed projects by the central government, the
municipality and the local population yearned to attain both for need and prestige. 21
In 1977, the municipality began the free land rush in Al-Hazm area, or "New
Huraimla." The first two land subdivisions (310 and 319), which were approved for
distribution of 1,196 residential lots, readily covered an area of 144 hectares. By 1985, the
Al-Hazm development comprised seven new subdivisions including 310 and 319,
comprising 2,600 residential lots occupying an area of 3.08 square kilometers. The lots
took the rectilinear form with dimensions of 20-by-20 for lower income groups and 30-by-
30 meters for minah grants (land obtained through royal courtesy) and the setback villa
was the official residential pattern for single housing units. The Al-Hazm development also
included a subdivision, 354, for recreational use, and subdivision 398 for government and
commercial services. To encourage small-scale, service-oriented industries, the
government offered interest-free loans and rent land at nominal prices ($0.08 per m 2 ) for
industrial establishments. Huraimla's subdivision number 346 was designated for
industrial uses in compliance with the state industrial incentive program. By 1987, the total
platted area of Al-Hazm amounted to 3.85 square kilometers, as opposed to the old village
non-farm, developed area of 0.84 square kilometers, including the 0.24 square kilometers
area which laid within the old, walled town). In short, out of the 329.9 hectares of
residential land subdivisions since 1972, only 32.3 were converted from private land,
while the remaining 396.7 hectares were government land which underwent privatization.
Although the Al-Hazm offered a viable alternative to the next-to-town growth, due to
its free land factor, Al-Hazm did not negate conterminous growth of Huraimla proper.'
Huraimla's planned northern growth continued following the tarmac road to Riyadh, yet at
a slower pace. In the area adjacent to the walled town, the municipality also approved
subdivisions 144, 147, 152, 161, 245, 307, 314, 318, 321, 329, 334 for sale to the public
(Figure 8.12, subdivisions 7 through 9 and 11 through 17). However, land owners were
forced to keep their land prices competitive and in tune with the overall factors shaping the
land market.
The demand for more minah (gifts by the King in the form of plots) free lots
continued uninterrupted, by both residents and other Huraimlawis who lived outside
Huraimla. The free land program, although giving priority to lower income groups and
town residents, was also expanded to outsiders who wished to apply for land in