The Al-Ahsa Municipality has started construction on its cable car and bridges project in the Al-Shuba Mountain Park to help boost tourism and create jobs for Saudis.

Deputy Mayor of Al-Ahsa Abdullah Al-Arfaj said the project includes cable cars that would transport passengers 72 meters from the ground and then 300 meters between the two summits of the mountain.

The wooden bridges would span 450 meters and allow people to climb the mountain.
The 1-million-square-meter project includes various areas with entertainment and other facilities. The municipality is encouraging investment in specialized sports clubs, a children’s theme park, mountain climbing, traditional market, spa and residential facilities.

“The cable car and bridges project will strengthen domestic tourism in Al-Ahsa. It will attract visitors from inside and outside the Kingdom. The cable car would cover wide areas of the Al-Ahsa agricultural oasis,” Al-Arfaj said. He said the project would be particularly attractive for adventure-seeking young men, and provide a recreation area for residents of the area.

“We aim to expand the recreational areas in Al-Ahsa by establishing gardens, sports tracks and service areas. These will be completed through seven approved development and service projects worth SR75.5 million,” he said.

Al-Ahsa Gov. Prince Badr bin Muhammad Al-Jalawi said that the region would also develop its arts and crafts industry, which is part of the nation’s Bare’ program.

“Tourism projects generate income and raise the standard of living of citizens. They also develop economic resources, revitalize commercial areas, and contribute to the preservation of the country’s traditional heritage,” he said.

Ali Al-Hajj, director general of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA), said that there are 20,663 artisans in the Kingdom and 45 groups involved in producing handmade products.

He said the Bare’ program includes 15 initiatives which also cover the drafting of a national strategy for the handicrafts industry.

In addition, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization has provided financial support for the industry in the Kingdom and other Arab countries in North Africa and the Middle East. The plan is to establish a permanent headquarters for craftspeople and include their products at festivals and other events, he said.

Al-Hajj said the SCTA supports arts and crafts initiatives in Al-Ahsa and other parts of the country.