The Saudi National Housing Company (NHC) has announced plans to construct the fifth residential suburb in Mecca, named Mecca Gate Suburb. This project, to be undertaken by five local companies, will encompass 8,300 villas, townhouses, and apartments, occupying a total area of 5 square kilometers. Additionally, it will include 10 schools, 10 mosques, and 16 commercial establishments. This new suburb aligns with previous housing projects such as Al-Jawhara, Sadayem, Khayala, and Al-Saddan, and is expected to accommodate 168,000 new residents in Mecca.
The construction industry in Mecca has been thriving in recent years, particularly with iconic residential projects garnering attention, such as luxury high-rise buildings overlooking the Grand Mosque, which has also propelled the local real estate market. In January of this year, the Saudi government introduced the Golden Visa program, encouraging individuals who own properties worth at least 4 million Saudi Riyals (approximately 1 million USD) to apply, aimed at promoting foreign investment and tourism development. This policy is expected to further stimulate the luxury property market in Mecca and Medina.
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Furthermore, Saudi Arabia's mega-project, Roshn, announced in April of this year its plans to construct a residential suburb named Almanar in Mecca, capable of accommodating 17,000 people. This project will offer villas, duplex apartments, and townhouses to meet the needs of middle-income earners, although the overall planning remains focused on luxury.
The government's long-term goal is to increase the national homeownership rate to 70% by 2030. According to the latest official census data, as of the end of 2022, Saudi Arabia's homeownership rate has reached 61%. These large-scale housing construction projects aim to meet the growing demand for housing, provide more housing options, and drive economic development.