Jeddah to disconnect utilities from dilapidated buildings in Al Ruwais as part of major safety drive

The Jeddah Mayoralty will begin disconnecting and removing utility services from dilapidated buildings in the Al Ruwais neighborhood on Tuesday, marking a key phase in a large-scale public safety and urban renewal initiative in the Kingdom’s Red Sea port city.

The General Directorate of Emergency and Crisis Management confirmed that the notification process has been completed for 1,011 buildings identified in the first phase of the project. Demolition orders were issued by the Committee for Dilapidated Buildings after all regulatory and legal procedures were finalized, with property owners granted the legally mandated grace period.

Municipal officials said the disconnection and removal of electricity, water, and other essential services will be carried out in coordination with relevant authorities, paving the way for demolition work to proceed according to the approved schedule.

The move aims to enhance public safety, protect lives and property, and mitigate the risks posed by structurally unsafe buildings to residents and the surrounding urban environment. Authorities have warned that aging and abandoned structures pose increasing hazards, particularly in densely populated neighborhoods.

The Jeddah Mayoralty added that it will continue to monitor and assess buildings across multiple districts of the governorate that may pose potential threats to public safety. The effort forms part of a broader strategy to improve the city’s appearance, raise overall quality of life, and create a safer and more sustainable urban environment.

Officials said the measures align with a comprehensive urban development plan aimed at upgrading Jeddah’s physical landscape and strengthening its long-term urban resilience.