Unplanned Settlements in Saudi Arabia. The Case of Al-Sabeel District, Jeddah

Unplanned settlements represent a twentieth-century phenomenon that has been steadily growing on the periphery of almost all cities in the world. These areas are usually overpopulated and characterized by inadequate housing, unpleasant living conditions. Jeddah, a second major city in Saudi Arabia, consists of many unplanned settlements and slums, which affect the future development of its urban and social fabric. This paper intends to explore some essential issues relating to the issues of unplanned settlements in Jeddah through the study, analysis, and assessment of the built environment of Al-Sabeel district, one of the oldest districts in Jeddah. The main objective of this research is to investigate the major physical problems of the deteriorated areas of the district. Thus, the primary purpose is to define a set of recommendations for the upgrading of future unplanned settlements, which will help these informal areas to improve and gradually integrate into the existing urban fabric of the city. Regarding methodology, a qualitative research approach was adopted, which included a literature review, a face-to-face interviews, and field visits to document the physical condition of the built environment of the district. The outcome of the study represents a set of recommendations that indicate the importance of community participation approach as a means of improving the physical condition of the urban environment of Al-Sabeel district.