Last April, 'Al-Watan' documented scenes of the demolition of the popular Thursday Market in Qatif, which for decades had been one of the most prominent commercial and heritage landmarks in the governorate, a step that at the time raised residents' questions about the future of the site and what would become of this historical legacy. Today, the file is reopened, but this time through the gateway of development, after the Governor of the Eastern Province, Prince Saud bin Nayef, launched a package of development and investment projects in Qatif Governorate, led by the development project of the popular Thursday Market with an investment of 120 million riyals, as part of projects totaling more than 900 million riyals.

Urban projects: The project carries a new vision to revive the historical market, while preserving its social and heritage identity, and transforming it into a modern commercial and tourist destination, through developing the urban and service environment, and enhancing the experience of shoppers and visitors. The development does not stop at the Thursday Market, but also includes reviving urban projects that had been stalled for years, foremost of which is the Prince Sultan Cultural Center, which returns to the development scene with an investment of up to 500 million riyals, after years of suspension, to become an integrated center for cultural, tourism, and entertainment events. Development destinations: The projects include the development of Saihat Park with an investment of 100 million riyals, along with the opening of 15 new parks distributed across the governorate's neighborhoods, and the development of three main road axes, as part of a comprehensive plan aimed at enhancing quality of life, expanding green spaces, improving infrastructure, and supporting investment in the governorate. These projects reflect a trend towards re-presenting Qatif as an integrated urban city, by investing in historical sites, addressing stalled projects, and turning them into development and economic destinations that contribute to supporting commercial and tourism activity, in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.

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