Tale of an Old City

By Fudail Wahban

Sr. Editor

Al-Mubaraz city suffered from a numberless environmental, demographic, urban and social problems, wrote Professor Dr. Abdullah Al-Taher, professor of geography, college of arts, in a study.

The study conducted on Al-Mubaraz city; Ihsa governorate; Saudi Arabia, proved that it was established upon lands rich in subterranean renewable water  resources. The inhabitants made use of thes resources and kick-started socio-economic activities related to agriculture.  

Al-Mubaraz city was neither established in pre-Islamic era nor in the first six hegira centuries since its name was mentioned in no historical or geographical  documents at all. Yet, the nucleolus of Al-Mubaraz city was in the Uynaid dynasty that ruled Ihsa in 469 thru 636 H (1076-1238 G).

The study proved that the demographic and urban growth of Al-Mubaraz city in pre-oil period was very slow, but after the breakthrough era of oil discoveries things changed upside down. The growth process went faster. 

Al-Mubaraz city was the largest city in Saudi Arabia at the end of first half of the 20th century and might be the largest in Arabian Peninsula itself. Due to the by-then expansion, a number of environmental, demographic, urban and social problems emerged.

            The most formidable environmental problems were enumerated as follows:

1.             Deforesting a number of horticulture and fields surrounding the city into housing districts like Al-Ha'et, Al-Meqetah, Umm Suliman, Al-Shrufiah and others. In future, a number of plots is expected to be housing lands.

2.             Upping of housing and industrial consumption of water during the past five decades. This led to drying up some wells and dwindling the level of water in some others.

3.             There was no sanitary drainage in many districts. This led to upping the level of water in the districts.       

As to housing problems, They were listed in upping the figure of city inhabitants quickly particularly the figure of underage. This would make strong supply of manpower in future. Yet, this category pre-requires preparing social, healthy, educational services.

As for urban problems, they were divided into two categories: old and new districts. The most insurmountable problems of old districts were: badness of houses; small-sized houses; impassable ways; vulnerable houses. The most formidable problems of new districts are types of villas. Such types of villas have windows open to the adjacent villas, and thus privacy of people are violated. Some modern buildings lack educational, healthy, sanitary and recreational services; no parking lots; no sidewalks.  

In regard to traffic problems, the study points out to traffic congestion and high-level of accidents, particularly in  rush hour when students and teachers go to and fro schools.

The study gives a number of recommendations to officials. The recommendations are summarized in avoiding making the same mistakes and flaws of the by-then planning of old and new districts.