Finjan Podcast – Urban Design with Dr. Abdullah bin Jenaideb

Host: Finjan (thmanyah)
Guest: Dr. Abdullah bin Jenaideb – architect, urban economist, former designer of the Grand Mosque of Makkah expansions.

1. Personal and Historical Context

• Family naming:
• Dr. Jenaideb explained his determination to name his son Jenaideb bin Jenaideb after his great‑grandfather, despite family opposition.

• He later named his other children Yazeed, Reem, and Yamour, describing the cultural traditions and disputes that surrounded each choice.

• Family house – “Al‑Ezlah”:

• A century‑old tall building in Makkah, built in the Transitional Era (a blend of traditional Makki style and Italian‑Renaissance influence introduced via the Ottoman Empire).

• The house once served as a local governor’s residence, a prison, and a council hall; its architecture featured Rawashin (wooden paneled balconies).

• Makkah’s historic administration:

• Before the unification under King Abdulaziz, Makkah was divided into four semi‑autonomous districts (Al‑Maabdah, Jarwal, Ajyad, Al‑Masfalah).
• Each district had its own governor, prison, and local administration, creating a direct link between rulers and residents.
• Dr. Jenaideb argues that this close administrative relationship enabled sustainable governance, a principle he believes should inform modern city management.

2. Urban‑Planning Theory: Local Administration and the “3 × 3 × 6” Model

• Core premise: The most effective city administrator is a native of the city; external officials lack the intimate knowledge required for nuanced governance.

• Model structure (applied originally to Jeddah):

• Three factor groups: Economic, Social, Environmental.
• Six main problems under each factor (e.g., economic limitations, lack of diversity, uneven placement of activities).

• The model is intended to guide mayors toward activating the city’s economy rather than focusing on routine tasks such as pothole repair.

• Mayor’s essential role (according to Dr. Jenaideb):

• Facilitate business creation and investment.
• Issue proportionate fines and warnings, not blanket shutdowns.
• Ensure the city’s prosperity, growth, and development, leaving operational details to municipal sub‑agencies.

3. Jeddah – The “Energetic” City

• Why Jeddah is considered energetic (theoretically):
• High street density, crowded commercial corridors, and a historic grid layout.

• Compared with Riyadh’s low‑density, sprawling development, Jeddah’s built environment is more compact and mature.

• Key urban characteristics:

• Density: Buildings of five to seven stories dominate, providing a human‑scale environment.
• Grid system: Straight vertical and horizontal streets simplify navigation and support efficient land use.

• Economic base in neighborhoods: Certain districts (e.g., Al‑Safa) already host shops, cafés, and services, though many lack diversity.

• Proposed interventions:

• Obstacles for cars: Reduce reliance on private vehicles by making streets less car‑friendly (e.g., one‑way streets, narrower lanes).
• Public transport and footpaths: Complement car restrictions with reliable transit and continuous pedestrian networks.
• One‑way street network: Convert most streets to one‑way flow, extending travel time modestly to encourage walking.

• Linear parks and green corridors: Integrate vegetation along streets to improve livability without large land grabs.

• Comparison with other Saudi cities:

• While Riyadh and the Eastern Province have lower density and more car‑centric layouts, Jeddah’s grid and density make it better positioned to meet Vision 2030’s goal of placing three Saudi cities on the Meta list.

4. Economic, Social, and Environmental Issues in Residential Areas

• Economic limitations:
• Many neighborhoods lack an internal economic base; residents merely live without local employment or services.

• Existing bases (e.g., Al‑Safa) often lack diversity, limiting residents’ ability to work within their district.

• Variation of activity placement:

• Entertainment, shopping, and other amenities are concentrated in one part of the city, creating congestion and uneven development.

• Dr. Jenaideb recommends distributing essential functions across all districts to avoid “deformity” and improve quality of life.

• Social considerations:

• The mayor should view residential areas as the primary point of contact with citizens; addressing potholes alone does not resolve underlying economic or social deficiencies.

• Environmental factors:

• Current street designs often prioritize vehicle flow over pedestrian comfort and green space.
• Introducing linear parks, bicycle lanes, and tree‑lined streets would enhance environmental quality while supporting the city’s economic vitality.

5. The Grand Mosque of Makkah – Design, Identity, and Crowd Management

• Architectural philosophy:

• Dr. Jenaideb defines the purpose of architecture as "creating wonder." The third expansion of the Grand Mosque, the Mataf, and the Masateb building were intended to raise wonder in every detail.

• Makki identity:

• The Makki architectural language (e.g., Rawashin, cascading forms) is traditionally applied to residential buildings, not to the Grand Mosque.

• The Mosque’s design therefore retained a formal, Mamluk‑inspired language rather than directly copying Makki residential motifs.

• Design process and authorship:

• Dr. Jenaideb personally drafted the layout, pillar positions, and electromechanical strategies for the third expansion, Mataf, and Masateb building.

• He sent detailed computer drawings to consultants each morning; the final decisions were approved by him.

• Crowd‑control strategy:

• Divide‑and‑manage: The Mataf area is split into multiple independent sections (six or seven “mini‑Matafs”) so that security forces can handle each cluster separately.
• Smart barriers: Automated ground‑level devices can open to increase space when crowd density exceeds safe thresholds, reducing reliance on human guards.

• Capacity figures: The designed throughput is roughly 100 000 pilgrims per hour, equating to about 2 million per day when fully operational.

• Restroom and ablution facilities:

• The plan called for 20 000 Wudu units and 12 000 restrooms, organized into clusters of about 30 units each to facilitate management and security.

• Commercial streets were integrated around these clusters to revive local commerce and provide a human‑scale environment.

• Masateb building and yards:

• Serves as a commercial corridor linking the Mosque to surrounding neighborhoods, featuring Mashrabiyas and cascading façades that echo Makki aesthetics while meeting modern functional needs.

• Future expansions:

• Dr. Jenaideb believes the current infrastructure is sufficient for the projected 30 million pilgrim experience under Vision 2030, provided that entrance/exit improvements and the Mataf’s full completion are realized.

6. Vision 2030, Meta‑City Goal, and the Role of Jeddah

• Meta‑city ambition: Jeddah is viewed as the most prepared and cost‑effective Saudi city to achieve inclusion on the Meta list, supporting the broader Vision 2030 agenda.

• Urban generators: Projects such as the Jeddah Central development (repurposing an old desalination plant) are seen as “urban generators” that inject development “oxygen” into under‑served districts, preventing socioeconomic “gangrene.”

• Balancing land value:

• Land price near the Grand Mosque is high due to proximity advantage; allowing excessive building heights inflates prices further and devalues peripheral land.
• Dr. Jenaideb recommends limiting heights (e.g., 10‑floor caps) to balance advantages across the city and maintain affordability.

7. Communication Principles and Personal Rules

• Five personal rules governing public discourse:
• Sanctity of religion – not to be debated publicly.
• Reverence for rulers – discussion that questions the ruler’s legitimacy is prohibited.
• Security and military matters – not to be discussed.
• Anti‑discrimination – any form of racial, religious, regional, or tribal discrimination is disallowed.

• No personal name‑calling – criticism must avoid naming individuals directly.

• These rules, he argues, preserve freedom of speech within the cultural and legal framework of Saudi Arabia.

Closing Remarks

Dr. Abdullah bin Jenaideb stresses that effective urban development requires insightful, data‑driven analysis and context‑specific solutions rather than generic, aesthetic‑only approaches. His experience with both Jeddah’s grid‑based growth and the Grand Mosque’s complex expansions illustrates the need for:

• Local, knowledgeable administration
• Balanced economic, social, and environmental planning
• Infrastructure that supports both the city’s residents and its millions of pilgrims

The conversation underscores the importance of aligning Saudi Arabia’s urban future with Vision 2030 while respecting historical identity, practical functionality, and the well‑being of its citizens.