What is King Abdullah Economic City in Saudi Arabia?
King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) is a planned city currently under construction on the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia, approximately 100 km north of Jeddah.
The plans were revealed in 2005, and the estimated cost is US$26.6 billion. The KAEC has been planned for several reasons: to create jobs and opportunities for the youth of Saudi Arabia; to expand the economy; and to attract foreign investment and global trade, commerce, and industry. It is envisioned as a home for 2 million people.
In addition to an international airport, the KAEC will have six major components: a seaport, an educational zone (with a university designed to accommodate 18,000 students), an industrial zone, a central business district, residential districts (150,000+ units, mostly in apartments in low-rise buildings, but also in townhouses, waterfront villas – including those with private docking facilities), and a sea resort area. The city will also have parks, a sports stadium, and 550 mosques.
With the sea resort area along a 2.5-km stretch of unspoiled beach, the plan is to make the area one of the Middle East’s prime destinations for tourists – which will be totally new for Saudi Arabia, which only recently has allowed minimal tourism.
