‘Mostadam’ Initiative Preserves Real Estate Market Value, Draws Investments

Mostadam initiative aims to provide a range of services and solutions that contribute to enhancing the quality of residential construction and raises the efficiency of energy and water consumption | PHOTO/Khaled Al-Khamis
Mostadam initiative aims to provide a range of services and solutions that contribute to enhancing the quality of residential construction and raises the efficiency of energy and water consumption | PHOTO/Khaled Al-Khamis
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‘Mostadam’ Initiative Preserves Real Estate Market Value, Draws Investments

Mostadam initiative aims to provide a range of services and solutions that contribute to enhancing the quality of residential construction and raises the efficiency of energy and water consumption | PHOTO/Khaled Al-Khamis
Mostadam initiative aims to provide a range of services and solutions that contribute to enhancing the quality of residential construction and raises the efficiency of energy and water consumption | PHOTO/Khaled Al-Khamis

The Saudi Housing Ministry is looking to boost the Kingdom’s real estate market, especially in terms of supporting residential infrastructure. It launched 16 initiatives, looking to increase market value.

Real-estate experts confirmed that the initiatives are starting to show real-time results, stressing that the Ministry will not hesitate in announcing new initiatives if they prove helpful in contributing to solving the housing problem in Saudi Arabia and provide housing for all citizens.

The Mostadam (Arabic for sustainable) program was reviewed positively by experts who say it helps to preserve market value and the median age of buildings and works to attract investment.

Economics Professor Salem Baajajah stressed that Mostadam is one of the most important initiatives announced by the Ministry in the past period. This is traced to its many benefits and extra goals that were necessary in order to complete the scene for the real estate sector.

“The government, represented by the Ministry of Housing, allocates billions of riyals to provide housing for citizens, in view of the high demand for construction, whether by the state or by the citizen, it was necessary to ensure that these new buildings are built according to safety and security standards,”Baajajah said in his review of the Mostadam initiative.

“Mostadam fulfills all conditions combined through services it offers to all those wishing to build their homes,” he added.

“It works to offer services and solutions to boost the quality of buildings and increase water and power efficiency and the confidence index,” Baajajah told Asharq Al-Awsat.

“Adhering to the terms of this initiative ensures that operation and maintenance costs of housing units are reduced…it also reduces potential risks in the housing construction process and the costs entailed,” he added.

Mostadam provides services such as quality inspections for residential units belonging to real estate developer. A certificate is handed out to qualifying buildings.



Iranian Pilgrims Stranded in Saudi Arabia to Return Home via Jadidat Arar Crossing

The first Iranian pilgrims’ flights departed from Madinah airport. (Madinah Principality)
The first Iranian pilgrims’ flights departed from Madinah airport. (Madinah Principality)
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Iranian Pilgrims Stranded in Saudi Arabia to Return Home via Jadidat Arar Crossing

The first Iranian pilgrims’ flights departed from Madinah airport. (Madinah Principality)
The first Iranian pilgrims’ flights departed from Madinah airport. (Madinah Principality)

Iranian pilgrims began departing Saudi Arabia on Sunday in organized batches under a joint air-and-land travel program, authorities said, following the closure of Iranian airspace following strikes between Iran and Israel.

The move came in line with a directive by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and in response to guidance from Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

The first group of pilgrims left Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah, heading to Arar Airport near the Saudi border. From there, they will continue their journey overland to the Jadidat Arar border crossing into Iraq.

Iran’s Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization announced that the return of pilgrims to their country will begin on June 15, Iranian news agency Tasnim reported.

The agency said the arrangements were made in cooperation with the Saudi government. Pilgrims will be flown by Saudi Airlines from Madinah to Arar Airport near the Iraqi border.

From Arar, pilgrims will continue by dedicated buses to the Iraqi cities of Najaf and Karbala, where they will stay briefly to perform religious visits at the shrines of the Ahl al-Bayt.

Afterward, they will resume their journey to the Iran border using an Iranian land transport fleet before entering the country.

Crown Prince Mohammed had instructed the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to provide all necessary support to ensure the safe return of Iranian pilgrims and to facilitate their departure given the conflict between Tehran and Tel Aviv.

With direct flights between Saudi Arabia and Iran suspended, a carefully coordinated plan was implemented to evacuate approximately 77,000 stranded pilgrims.

The first group of pilgrims arrived at Jadidat Arar on Sunday. Several daily flights to Arar, each carrying around 350 pilgrims, are being conducted, with roughly 3,000 pilgrims transported each day as part of this initial phase.

These efforts reflect Saudi Arabia’s humanitarian approach to hosting and serving the guests of the Two Holy Mosques, ensuring their safe return home despite complex regional challenges.

The operation underscores the Kingdom’s ongoing commitment to facilitating pilgrimage for people of all nationalities.