Jeddah Central Project Set to Be Prominent Development Project in Kingdom’s Vision 2030

Jeddah Central Project will push the Saudi city into a development movement that will enhance its presence among the top 100 global cities (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Jeddah Central Project will push the Saudi city into a development movement that will enhance its presence among the top 100 global cities (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Jeddah Central Project Set to Be Prominent Development Project in Kingdom’s Vision 2030

Jeddah Central Project will push the Saudi city into a development movement that will enhance its presence among the top 100 global cities (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Jeddah Central Project will push the Saudi city into a development movement that will enhance its presence among the top 100 global cities (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz launched a development plan for the Jeddah Central Project on Friday. The undertaking sets out to be one of the most prominent development projects of the Kingdom’s national program for transformation, Vision 2030.

It aims to develop the city of Jeddah in support of its ambitions to become one of the top 100 cities in the world.

The project will contribute to developing a vital area suitable for recreation, entertainment, and shopping, transforming the city into a unique destination for various segments of society, including residents and visitors.

The project will be implemented by the Public Investment Fund’s Central Jeddah Development in three phases, the first of which will be completed by the end of the year 2027.

Downtown Jeddah will then begin to receive residents and visitors from inside and outside the Kingdom.

The project aligns with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, especially developing tourism sites that live up to the highest international standards. It also provides investment opportunities that contribute to the development of the private sector and the tourism, hospitality, and entertainment sector.

In addition, the city will benefit from the building and development of modern residential areas, encompassing 17,000 residential units and diversified hotel projects that offer more than 2,700 hotel rooms, and the provision of integrated solutions for the business sector.

The project will feature a world-class marina and stunning beach resorts, as well as restaurants and cafes and diverse shopping options.

The waterfront of the project is 9.5 km long, which includes a promenade, a marina to host local and international yachts, and a 2.1 km long beach. Open spaces and public services make up a significant part of the project area, with the provision of designated walking areas to create a walkable environment.



US Job Growth Surges in September, Unemployment Rate Falls to 4.1%

A woman enters a store next to a sign advertising job openings at Times Square in New York City, New York, US, August 6, 2021. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File Photo
A woman enters a store next to a sign advertising job openings at Times Square in New York City, New York, US, August 6, 2021. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File Photo
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US Job Growth Surges in September, Unemployment Rate Falls to 4.1%

A woman enters a store next to a sign advertising job openings at Times Square in New York City, New York, US, August 6, 2021. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File Photo
A woman enters a store next to a sign advertising job openings at Times Square in New York City, New York, US, August 6, 2021. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File Photo

US job growth accelerated in September and the unemployment slipped to 4.1%, further reducing the need for the Federal Reserve to maintain large interest rate cuts at its remaining two meetings this year.
Nonfarm payrolls increased by 254,000 jobs last month after rising by an upwardly revised 159,000 in August, the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics said in its closely watched employment report on Friday.
Economists polled by Reuters had forecast payrolls rising by 140,000 positions after advancing by a previously reported 142,000 in August.
The initial payrolls count for August has typically been revised higher over the past decade. Estimates for September's job gains ranged from 70,000 to 220,000.
The US labor market slowdown is being driven by tepid hiring against the backdrop of increased labor supply stemming mostly from a rise in immigration. Layoffs have remained low, which is underpinning the economy through solid consumer spending.
Average hourly earnings rose 0.4% after gaining 0.5% in August. Wages increased 4% year-on-year after climbing 3.9% in August.
The US unemployment rate dropped from 4.2% in August. It has jumped from 3.4% in April 2023, in part boosted by the 16-24 age cohort and rise in temporary layoffs during the annual automobile plant shutdowns in July.
The US Federal Reserve's policy setting committee kicked off its policy easing cycle with an unusually large half-percentage-point rate cut last month and Fed Chair Jerome Powell emphasized growing concerns over the health of the labor market.
While the labor market has taken a step back, annual benchmark revisions to national accounts data last week showed the economy in a much better shape than previously estimated, with upgrades to growth, income, savings and corporate profits.
This improved economic backdrop was acknowledged by Powell this week when he pushed back against investors' expectations for another half-percentage-point rate cut in November, saying “this is not a committee that feels like it is in a hurry to cut rates quickly.”
The Fed hiked rates by 525 basis points in 2022 and 2023, and delivered its first rate cut since 2020 last month. Its policy rate is currently set in the 4.75%-5.00% band.
Early on Friday, financial markets saw a roughly 71.5% chance of a quarter-point rate reduction in November, CME's FedWatch tool showed. The odds of a 50 basis points cut were around 28.5%.