THE Deputy Governor of the Makkah Province Prince Badr Bin Sultan Bin Abdulaziz honored Jabal Omar Development Company (JODC) for its official sponsorship of the Makkah Region Economic Forum with an award received by company CEO Yasser bin Faisal Al Sharif.

The company hosted the second edition of the Makkah Region Economic Forum at the Jabal Omar Hilton Makkah and Convention Center. The event, which took place on March 23-26, 2019 in the Sheikh Abdulrahman Fakieh Hall, was held under the patronage of Prince Khalid Al Faisal, Advisor of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Governor of Makkah Region. The event included panel discussions by several prominent speakers from inside and outside the Kingdom.

The forum discussed four main themes: urban development, public services and infrastructure, transport and logistics services, and innovation in Haj and Umrah. The event brought together 65 speakers from around the world in 25 panel discussions and sessions to discuss several aspects, most prominently the technological potential for industrial leapfrogging, ways in which business leaders can benefit from investment opportunities in the areas of innovation, the integration of new technologies with infrastructure to improve living standards, untapped economic drivers in Makkah, and enabling cities to adopt creative and innovative growth strategies.

CEO Al Sharif participated in a panel discussion titled ‘Hospitality and Real Estate Development’, as well as another discussion titled ‘Improving and Enriching the Experience of Pilgrims.’

On the sidelines of the forum, Al Shari said the Jabal Omar project seeks to contribute to achieving the Kingdom’s objectives of increasing pilgrim capacity to more than 30 million by 2030. The company aims to absorb one third of this number, and the project will help support the tourism sector in the Kingdom by adding 12,000 to 13,000 rooms and suites upon completion.

The Jabal Omar project spans 230,000 square meters and includes 40 hotel and residential skyscrapers. It is a mixed-use development with commercial markets, luxury residential units, and hotels. The Jabal Omar Hilton Makkah and Convention Center is an attractive destination for hosting major forums and conferences as this modern architectural landmark includes the largest conference center in Makkah and can accommodate more than 1,500 people. It is equipped with advanced technical equipment, logistics services, and interpretation services for five international languages, in addition to secure Wi-Fi and wireless high-speed Internet in the business center and guest rooms. — SG