Saudi Arabia Spending Nearly $830 Million in Water Upgrades Ahead of Heavy Tourist Season
(UC) — In anticipation of a large tourist season this year, Saudi Arabia is spending $825 million to upgrade its water infrastructure in the city of Mecca along with other holy sites.
In the Muslim faith, Hajj is a holy pilgrimage taken to pay homage to some of the religion’s holiest locations in the world including the city of Mecca, the faith’s holiest site.
The Saudi government is expecting to receive nearly two million pilgrims this year and the country usually pulls in around $12 billion a year from Hajj tourism according to MEP Middle East.
In preparation for season, the kingdom is launching multiple water infrastructure improvement projects to the tune of almost $830 million.
The first major project is a $233 million pipeline to transport desalinated water from Al-Shuaibah, its massive desalination plant, to Mecca and other holy sites across the county.
In addition to the pipeline, the government is improving water networks, connections to homes, strategic reservoirs and sanitary drainage networks and connections.
Meanwhile, a second phase of the Al-Shuaibah plant, with a capacity of 250,000 cubic meters (8.8 million cubic feet) per day, has also been undertaken.
Related News
From Archive

- Intrepid Fiber breaks ground on fiber optic network in Superior, Colo.
- Excavator collides with I-95 overpass in Henrico, Va., causing multi-vehicle crash
- Shrewsbury, Mass., expands sewer inspections and cleaning efforts
- Two workers rescued after hours trapped in Mich. trench collapse
- Trump calls for Keystone XL pipeline revival, but developer has moved on
- Illinois overhauls Peoples Gas pipeline program, mandates focus on high-risk pipes
- Ameren Illinois to invest $140 million in natural gas pipeline replacement program
- Charlottesville, Va., to begin work on 24-inch water line for Rivanna River crossing
- Mass. governor slams Trump for ‘dangerous delay’ of $50 million in lead pipe replacement funds
Comments