Field meeting resolves Al Madina – Al Ula – Tabuk Highway crisis

Field meeting resolves Al Madina – Al Ula – Tabuk Highway crisis

Almasalla, ATP News- His Royal Highness Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz, President of SCTA, has recently called on a meeting with relevant authorities to resolve Al Madina – Al Ula – Tabuk highway crisis.

The meeting was attended by His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz, Al Madina Governor and Chairman of Al Madina Tourism Development Council, in addition to the specialists from the Ministry of Transport with close follow up from His Excellency Eng. Abdullah Al Mogbil. Also in attendance was Al Madina Secretary General Dr. Khalid Taher, and Al Ula Mayor Saad Al Sehaimi.

Correction of Highway route was determined as the officials realized that the status of the road does not serve the tourism development in Al Ula municipality. Besides, it constitutes a real threat to Al Hijir site (Madain Saleh), which is a member of UNESCO’s World Heritage List, in addition to other archeological and urban heritage sites across the municipality, which required its route to be corrected in order to serve tourism and heritage villages in the region and achieve sustainable tourism growth.

The meeting was held in a place near Madain Saleh, and nearby the highway. It was attended by Al Madina Secretary General, Dr. Khalid Al Taher, and Director General of Research and Study in the Ministry of Transport, Eng. Badr Al Mayoof, in addition to a number of SCTA’s senior officials.

The meeting resulted in a number of recommendations for the required actions including the formation of a committee to review the final schemes and submit them again to relevant authorities for approval and obtaining required financial support to execute the roadwork on its new suggested route to serve both, the region’s people and the historic sites.

A number of local residents in Al Ula commended the move of HRH President of SCTA along with Al Madina governor, reflects high sense of responsibility as well as allows wider opportunities for tourism and heritage development by fully utilizing the region potential and achieve sustainable development.