The realities of integrating physical planning and local management into urban development: A case study of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

In Saudi Arabia, an array of diverse strategies has been enacted in response to the adverse effects of sprawling development patterns. A review of the historical proliferation of these strategies indicates that although the strategies have achieved a high-quality standard of infrastructure in some parts of the major cities of the Kingdom in the short term, longer term prospects are less promising since numerous urban problems persist in these cities. Among these problems are uncontrolled developments in the fringes, inadequate urban services, spiralling land prices and construction costs, the proliferation of slums and the degraded quality of the urban environment. This article explores the Jeddah urbanization process in order to outline briefly the historical evolution of urban planning and development in the city. In general, the investigation—which is being carried out using qualitative methodology—notes the need to integrate physical planning with urban development management. Attention is paid to the municipal authority and the extent of its legal and fiscal discretion, inter-agency coordination and community participation: these are all central to municipal management and to optimize the effect of public policies and urban planning.