Saudi Arabia's New City: Enchanting Project Surrounded by Navigable Canal

• Financial

In a bold move reflecting Saudi Arabia's aspirations for futuristic urban development, the ROSHN Group—backed by the Public Investment Fund, which falls under the patronage of Mohammed Bin Salman's Premolon Salman—has unveiled an audacious plan.

Set to redefine not only the visual tapestry of the city of Jeddah, known as Vizura, but also its broader environs, this plan is making waves across architectural and urban planning circles. This groundbreaking project, named 'MARAFY', promises to house over 130,000 inhabitants within its state-of-the-art confines.

But it's not just about adding numbers to the city. The project's real showstopper? A water channel, both vast and impressive, stretching 11 kilometers in length and 100 meters in width, a first of its kind in Saudi Arabia.

Connecting Land, Sea, and City

Furthering its commitment to seamless integration and accessibility, the channel and the city of MARAFY aim to connect with Sharm Abhurom, a pivotal channel on the eastern fringe of the Red Sea.

Think of it as a modern-day Silk Road, where water replaces the winding desert trails of yore. David Grover, the Group CEO of ROSHN, expressed his excitement and conviction about the project, stating, “It is core to us as a gigaproject to introduce such huge development to the Kingdom.

MARAFY will be a game changer in the real estate development sector, elevating the standard of development in the region, enhancing the quality of life, and creating a monumental impact in Jeddah”. But Grover's vision doesn't stop at regional redefinition.

He believes MARAFY is not just iconic but transformative. “This project will undoubtedly place Jeddah on the global map,” Grover remarked, aligning with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, which seeks to cultivate a vibrant community and robust economy, pushing its boundaries beyond the conventional oil industry.

In a bid to enhance urban mobility, parts of the new city enveloped by the canal are slated to connect to the rest of Jeddah through diverse transit options including water taxis, buses, metros, and even an airport. The future, it seems, is not just on the horizon – it's being built, brick by brick, in the heart of Saudi Arabia.