Recent field visits in Jeddah have revealed a worrying trend of encroachment on public property. Some owners of residential and commercial properties are illegally appropriating sections of streets and sidewalks, converting them into private parking areas without proper permits. This behavior not only violates the law but also poses a significant challenge to the Kingdom's efforts to improve its urban landscape.
The context of urban transformation and the humanization of cities
These warnings come at a time when Saudi Arabia is undergoing extensive development as part of its Vision 2030, which prioritizes "quality of life" and "humanizing cities." Historically, some major cities have suffered from planning that prioritizes vehicles over people, but modern strategies aim to reclaim public spaces for pedestrians and promote public health. Consequently, the phenomenon of sidewalk encroachment hinders these national efforts and sets urban planning back to square one, where the right of pedestrians and people with disabilities to a safe and continuous sidewalk is disregarded.
Forms of assault and their direct impact
The most prominent examples of these violations include completely obliterating or lowering sidewalks to facilitate vehicle access, and appropriating portions of public roads to pave them with asphalt and incorporate them into private parking areas. Violations also include building on the entire plot of land without adhering to legal setback requirements, thus eliminating the necessary separation between private property and public space. These practices lead to traffic congestion, particularly on busy streets and those leading to main exits, as well as endangering the lives of pedestrians.
A threat to quality of life and the urban economy
In this context, Dr. Rayan Sahahiri, Professor of Geomatics at King Abdulaziz University, explained that this phenomenon strikes at the very heart of Jeddah's quality of life. He emphasized that streets and sidewalks are not merely passageways, but rather the lifeblood of residents' daily experiences. Sahahiri added that cities that succeed in attracting tourism and investment are those that respect public space and make it pedestrian-friendly, noting that current encroachments undermine the concept of a "walkable city" and directly contradict the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030.
Ryan Sahahiri
Legal situation: Fines up to 50,000 riyals
Legally speaking, legal advisor Anwar Al-Qurashi emphasized that these practices constitute a "serious municipal violation" and a clear infringement on public funds. He explained that the regulations and laws in the Kingdom are strict in this regard, with fines reaching 50,000 riyals for anyone who encroaches on public facilities or benefits from their services illegally.
Al-Qurashi pointed out that the penalties are not limited to fines, but also include the mandatory removal of the encroachment at the violator's expense and the restoration of the area to its original state. He emphasized that the regulations prohibit any digging or cutting of roads or alteration of their features without an official permit, in order to protect public property and ensure the safety of road users.
Anwar Al-Qurashi
An urban necessity, not a cosmetic luxury
For his part, Engineer Abdul Nasser Al-Abdulatif, a real estate development consultant, emphasized that protecting sidewalks is not merely an aesthetic choice but a vital necessity for safety and security. He explained that the encroachment of private parking spaces onto public roads creates visual and traffic chaos and undermines confidence in the city's planning system. Al-Abdulatif called for intensified proactive monitoring before and during construction phases to prevent such violations, stressing that respecting public rights is fundamental to building an organized and sustainable urban community.
Abdul Nasser Al-Abdul Latif
