Saudi Arabia has announced a plan for another megacity that promises an iconic waterfront similar to the one in London. The city called Marafy will be built north of Jeddah and have a mixed-use land development, according to a report in Al-Arabiya. It will have the capacity to accommodate 130,000 people with a seven-mile-long (11 kilometres) man-made canal at its centre, the outlet further said in its report. Marafy is being constructed by ROSHN Group, which is backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF).
According to developers, the idea behind the megacity is to bring marine environment into the heart of a historic city that has been welcoming traders, travellers and pilgrims for centuries.
Marafy is expected to accommodate 130,000 people. It has been designed with the vision of creating an urban oasis and its highlight will be an 11-kilometre manmade canal. The water body right in the middle of a desert will bring marine life to the heart of the historic city of Jeddah, which has been attracting traders, travellers and pilgrims for centuries. It will be the first man-made canal to be built in Saudi Arabia.
The canal, which will be 100-metre wide, will be navigable. It will connect to Obhur Creek and will be surrounded by multiple unique districts, according to a report on Al-Arabiya, an Arabic media channel. The waterfront will be as grand as Chicago, Stockholm, Hamburg, and central London.
