JEDDAH // Jeddah residents are worried about the future of their city, Saudi Arabia's second-largest, as concerns grow that a giant sewage lake on its outskirts may be close to flooding the city, and which could pose a greater danger than last week's floods that killed at least 105 people.
The sewage lake - sarcastically referred to by city residents as "Musk Lake" - usually holds 9.5 million cubic metres of sewage water but recent heavy rains have dangerously raised water levels and yesterday civil defence department officials began evacuating an area near the lake, according to witnesses.
The department did not give any reasons for the evacuation from al Ajwad area, but residents there reported leakages in the "precautionary" dam that stands between the main dam of the lake and Jeddah.
However, Jeddah's deputy mayor for services, Hani Abu Ras, assured that the precautionary dam was intact and explained that the leakage from the sewage lake is natural because it was caused by an increase in water levels following the heavy rainfall that hit the city last Tuesday.
"If the civil defence wanted to evacuate people in the area this is their call, from my side I can assure you the precautionary dam is intact," he said.
About 800 tanker trucks dump 50,000 cubic metres of sewage each day into the lake, which covers an area of 2.6 square kilometres.
Local authorities have rescued hundreds of people in Gwaizah district, south of Jeddah, since last week's rain. Angry residents are demanding swift action from authorities to punish the municipality after it claimed it was not prepared for the heavy rains, which caused massive road and property damage and dozens of deaths.
"They are saying the dam is fine, but I hope they are not lying to us, like usual, and tomorrow we wake up to find other parts of Jeddah flooded with waste water," said Badar al Tassan, a Jeddah resident who lives near the dam.
"Mr Abu Ras appeared yesterday on TV saying that no city in the world can manage the 3.7-inch [9.4cm] rainfall, but I've been to many countries where the rainfall doesn't stop and their drainage system still worked properly," he said.
According to the municipality, it needs at least 1.2 billion Saudi riyals (Dh1.17bn) to rebuild the flood- affected areas in the eastern and southern parts of the city. But with the current crisis, the city says it needs an extra 3bn riyals to have a well-developed drainage network.
Jeddah's mayor, Adel Faqih, said in an interview on Sunday with the Okaz daily newspaper that the city's infrastructure had not been prepared to handle the almost 10 centimetres of rainfall, which was a rare occurance.
"Let me say that it was a 3.7-inch rainfall, which was a very big flow into the one-inch drainage pipes. That is four times more than the capacity of our current drainage pipes," he told Okaz.
"The problem was in the flash floods coming from the valleys [surrounding the city]. Many [people] have developed land and made illegal incursions onto the drainage [system] meant for the floodwater. This had changed the direction of floodwater, causing the water to flow into the city," the mayor was quoted as saying.
Mr Faqih said the municipality has completed an emergency plan of temporary solutions, but that even if a developed drainage system had been in place, the sheer volume of the water would have been too much for it to handle.
The mayor did say, however, that he has a strategic plan to develop Jeddah by 2030, which he said has lacked proper infrastructure for decades.
But Ibrahim Katbkhanah, Jeddah's deputy mayor for projects, was quoted in Okaz yestereday as saying, "It [heavy rain] happens once every 100 years. It was difficult to deal with such a magnitude of water, [even by] international standards. Even if there had been a [proper] floodwater drainage network, it would have failed to contain the damage."
Saudi urban planning experts are sceptical of Mr Katbkhanah's claim that the rains were mainly a natural disaster that could not be planned for, and say it is the government's responsibility to physically modernise its cities.
At least 70 per cent of Jeddah lacks a functioning drainage system, according to the municipality.
"If the city lacked proper infrastructure for decades, then this is a crime by itself," said Saud Kateb, a professor at Jeddah-based King Abdul Aziz University.
"Everyone is putting the blame on nature but this is nonsense because if we had a proper infrastructure nothing wrong would have happened," Mr Kateb added.
Waleed abu al Khair, a human rights lawyer, said that although the mayor attributed what happened to natural causes, the minister of finance, Ibrahim al Assaf, tacitly admitted the government's responsibility when he announced on Sunday that the ministry will pay compensation for house damage.
According to Mr Abu al Khair, in the Islamic Hanabli legal doctrine that the kingdom follows, the government is not responsible for compensation if the cause was simply a natural disaster. "The word 'compensation' is enough legal evidence for me to show that the government acknowledges that it was its fault," he said.
Mr Abu al Khair plans to sue the municipality for the deaths of 105 people in the floods. Families of the dead are reported to support the lawsuit, which will allege massive mismanagement of city works construction by the municipality as a key cause for the flooding.
The head of the Supreme Judicial Council, the kingdom's highest judicial authority, Sheikh Saleh bin-Humaid, said on Sunday that all Saudi courts will hear any lawsuit against the authorities in regards to the Jeddah floods.
wmahdi@thenational.ae
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 194hp at 5,600rpm
Torque: 275Nm from 2,000-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Price: from Dh155,000
On sale: now
'Spies in Disguise'
Director: Nick Bruno and Troy Quane
Stars: Will Smith, Tom Holland, Karen Gillan and Roshida Jones
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
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How%20I%20connect%20with%20my%20kids%20when%20working%20or%20travelling
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Padmaavat
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Starring: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor, Jim Sarbh
3.5/5
Book%20Details
%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3EThree%20Centuries%20of%20Travel%20Writing%20by%20Muslim%20Women%3C%2Fem%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EEditors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESiobhan%20Lambert-Hurley%2C%20Daniel%20Majchrowicz%2C%20Sunil%20Sharma%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EIndiana%20University%20Press%3B%20532%20pages%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Tips%20for%20holiday%20homeowners
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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Swiss fly direct from the UAE to Zurich from Dh2,855 return, including taxes.
The chalet
Chalet N is currently open in winter only, between now and April 21. During the ski season, starting on December 11, a week’s rental costs from €210,000 (Dh898,431) per week for the whole property, which has 22 beds in total, across six suites, three double rooms and a children’s suite. The price includes all scheduled meals, a week’s ski pass, Wi-Fi, parking, transfers between Munich, Innsbruck or Zurich airports and one 50-minute massage per person. Private ski lessons cost from €360 (Dh1,541) per day. Halal food is available on request.
'Cheb%20Khaled'
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NEW%20PRICING%20SCHEME%20FOR%20APPLE%20MUSIC%2C%20TV%2B%20AND%20ONE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EApple%20Music%3Cbr%3EMonthly%20individual%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2410.99%20(from%20%249.99)%3Cstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EMonthly%20family%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2416.99%20(from%20%2414.99)%3Cstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EIndividual%20annual%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%24109%20(from%20%2499)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EApple%20TV%2B%3Cbr%3EMonthly%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%246.99%20(from%20%244.99)%3Cstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EAnnual%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2469%20(from%20%2449.99)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EApple%20One%3Cbr%3EMonthly%20individual%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2416.95%20(from%20%2414.95)%3Cstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EMonthly%20family%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2422.95%20(from%20%2419.95)%3Cstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EMonthly%20premier%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2432.95%20(from%20%2429.95)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Seven%20Winters%20in%20Tehran
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Four-day collections of TOH
Day Indian Rs (Dh)
Thursday 500.75 million (25.23m)
Friday 280.25m (14.12m)
Saturday 220.75m (11.21m)
Sunday 170.25m (8.58m)
Total 1.19bn (59.15m)
(Figures in millions, approximate)
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Spec%20sheet
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
CREW
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERajesh%20A%20Krishnan%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ETabu%2C%20Kareena%20Kapoor%20Khan%2C%20Kriti%20Sanon%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
THE BIO
Family: I have three siblings, one older brother (age 25) and two younger sisters, 20 and 13
Favourite book: Asking for my favourite book has to be one of the hardest questions. However a current favourite would be Sidewalk by Mitchell Duneier
Favourite place to travel to: Any walkable city. I also love nature and wildlife
What do you love eating or cooking: I’m constantly in the kitchen. Ever since I changed the way I eat I enjoy choosing and creating what goes into my body. However, nothing can top home cooked food from my parents.
Favorite place to go in the UAE: A quiet beach.
What drives subscription retailing?
Once the domain of newspaper home deliveries, subscription model retailing has combined with e-commerce to permeate myriad products and services.
The concept has grown tremendously around the world and is forecast to thrive further, according to UnivDatos Market Insights’ report on recent and predicted trends in the sector.
The global subscription e-commerce market was valued at $13.2 billion (Dh48.5bn) in 2018. It is forecast to touch $478.2bn in 2025, and include the entertainment, fitness, food, cosmetics, baby care and fashion sectors.
The report says subscription-based services currently constitute “a small trend within e-commerce”. The US hosts almost 70 per cent of recurring plan firms, including leaders Dollar Shave Club, Hello Fresh and Netflix. Walmart and Sephora are among longer established retailers entering the space.
UnivDatos cites younger and affluent urbanites as prime subscription targets, with women currently the largest share of end-users.
That’s expected to remain unchanged until 2025, when women will represent a $246.6bn market share, owing to increasing numbers of start-ups targeting women.
Personal care and beauty occupy the largest chunk of the worldwide subscription e-commerce market, with changing lifestyles, work schedules, customisation and convenience among the chief future drivers.