An enchanting view of Taif.

Taif Mayor Muhammad Al-Mokhrej said that a number of large projects are under way which will transform Taif into a top tourist destination.

He said the strategic plan for the city includes the development of large multi-stage projects that will serve both current and future generations, while preserving the scenic beauty of Taif.

Al-Mokhrej said the technical committee overseeing the project includes representatives from the municipality, the General Authority of Tourism, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs.

He said the committee has completed its preparations for the general framework of all the projects and has identified the requirements, while the municipality has been tasked with overseeing the implementation.

“One of the most comprehensive projects includes a sub-regional scheme for Taif, which gives priority to the historic downtown area. The project is a reflection of a memorandum of understanding signed between the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and the General Authority for Tourism and Antiquities.

The plan was initially put forward by Prince Sultan bin Salman, president of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA), and Prince Mansour bin Miteb, minister of municipal and rural affairs,” the mayor said.

The Ministry has begun implementing the project, which costs up to SR150 million. So far, 90 percent of the water drainage systems and main tunnels have been completed. Work on the smaller roads has been initiated and will be completed in six months. The final phase, which involves paving the roads, will be completed in 12 months, costing up to SR150 million.

Projects for the development of downtown Taif are also under way. These include development of tunnels, bridges, and pedestrian routes, which will take two years to complete and cost up to SR40 million. The projects also include the development of a number of parks and gardens, which aim to be the first of their kind in the Gulf, and will be completed within four months.

According to Al-Mokhrej, the municipality is also working on developing dozens of roadways and transport systems to ensure comfortable mobility for tourists and visitors.

The public transport project includes high capacity trains, which will be accessible in urban areas.

 
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