Opinion

A message to the minister of housing

August 16, 2018
A message to the minister of housing

Abdul Hadi Al-Saadi

Al-Riyadh newspaper

FROM my home in an old but popular residential area, I am writing this message to you while the clock is approaching 3 p.m. and I am listening to Umm Kalthoum, the famous Egyptian singer.

Mr. Minister, I am writing to you when I am living my fate as a simple citizen whose day is consumed by errands to the bakery and grocery to buy bread and vegetables.

My writing to you has surpassed all familiar norms that we had been used to when addressing senior officials. Addressing you at this beautiful hour has a beautiful repercussion in itself.

I am writing at the time of Vision 2030, which has been introduced to fight corruption, bureaucracy, nepotism and opportunism without any slackness and with strong spirit that does not know despair or retraction.

This vision was the child of a man who has dedicated himself to the service of his country and countrymen.

Mr. Minister, you said when you first took over that the problem of housing was a problem of perception. Many voices supported you while many others opposed you.

Your statement that this issue was a problem of perception and culture was very close to the truth. You were pointing to the Saudi culture that considers the sitting room to be almost half the size of the house and the annex another half.

This special Saudi culture of having extra large living rooms and annexes is being strictly observed in our society at a time when most of the famous people around the world live in houses that are hardly 200 sq. meters in area.

Mr. Minister, we all know that you work day and night to resolve the housing problem because you are the concerned official and the solving this problem is one of your most pressing priorities.

We have no doubt that you are doing your best to resolve this issue so as to translate the wishes of our country's leaders that every citizen should have a house to accommodate him and his children and absolve him from paying the rent.

We as consumers, Mr. Minister, believe that the problem of housing has stemmed from the unjust monopoly that has hit the real estate industry.

This is in addition, of course, to other problems including the lack a local contractor who is capable of absorbing the rapid construction activities.

The contractor also lacks credibility and does not have the required basic facilities. Therefore the housing problem has multiplied.

We strongly believe in the Vision and hope it to solve this problem. At the same time we want to ask: Why do not the municipalities find land in the outskirts of big towns and cities to build houses?

The municipalities should contract Chinese or Korean companies to build environment-friendly houses at extremely low prices and in a record short time.

The construction of a housing unit in this case will not exceed 10 days.

Mr. Minister, we bank on you, being one of the champions of the Vision to solve the housing problem, which has snowballed.


August 16, 2018
1400 views
HIGHLIGHTS
Opinion
21 days ago

Saudi Arabians remain unfazed by the 'buzz' of fools

Opinion
36 days ago

We have celebrated Founding Day for three years - but it has been with us for 300

Opinion
51 days ago

Why is FinTech flourishing in Saudi Arabia?