Quantitative Evaluation of Public Open Space per Inhabitant in the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: a Case Study of the City of Jeddah
Abstract
Public open spaces are essential for residents’ social interactions and
recreational activities, improving wellbeing as well as offering
economic and environmental benefits. Saudi Arabia is aiming to enhance
the quality of life in all its cities through different national
programs and projects. One of the key performance indicators is
increasing public open space per capita from 3.47 m2
to 3.9 m2 by 2020. This study measured the current
public open space per inhabitant in Jeddah by using a geographic
information system to identify the types of public open spaces that make
up the per capita value in the city. Jeddah is located in a rapidly
developing country, and it is a re-planned city where the current status
of public open spaces falls short of users’ expectations and does not
meet international standards. This study suggests that the Ministry of
Municipal and Rural Affairs and municipalities should adopt a systematic
approach to tackling the spatial distribution of open spaces in Saudi
cities. In addition, there is a need for the proactive involvement of
planners, landscape architects and designers in the planning process.