Saudi Arabia has unveiled plans for a new megacity with an iconic shoreline akin to London’s. According to Al-Arabiya, the city of Marafy will be created north of Jeddah and will feature a mixed-use land development. It will have a capacity of 130,000 people and a seven-mile-long (11-kilometer) man-made waterway in its core, according to the outlet. ROSHN Group, which is funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), is building Marafy.
The concept behind the megacity, according to developers, is to bring the sea environment into the heart of a historic city that has welcomed traders, tourists, and pilgrims for generations.
According to Al-Arabiya, the 11-kilometer-long and 100-metre-wide navigable canal would link to and expand Obhur Creek and will be encircled by various distinct districts.
“Marafy will be a game-changer in the real estate development sector, raising the bar of development in the region, boosting the quality of life, and creating a huge impact in Jeddah,” said David Grover, Group CEO of ROSHN Group, in a statement.
Marafy is one of the landmark projects that will place Jeddah on the map as a world-class destination, he noted.
The Canal’s Waterside Neighborhoods Will Be Linked to One Another and to The Rest of Jeddah
The canal’s waterside neighborhoods will be linked to one another and to the rest of Jeddah by an intermodal transportation system that will include water taxis, buses, and a metro. It will also be connected directly to King Abdulaziz International Airport.
This is the Kingdom’s latest ambitious project, following the construction of Neom, a new metropolis on the Red Sea coast. With a $500 billion budget, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) is promoting Neom as a metropolis that will restructure Saudi Arabia’s economy and serve as a testbed for technologies that may transform daily life.
Flying lifts, an urban spaceport, structures shaped like a double helix, a falcon’s spread wings, and a flower in bloom are among the many interesting characteristics.
Neom closed a $5.6 billion acquisition with a consortium of local investors earlier this year.
