Our Green Front Initiative in Qatif: Improving the urban landscape and planting trees on Al-Fath Street
In a strategic move reflecting the municipal sector's commitment to promoting sustainability and humanizing cities, the Qatif Governorate Municipality a unique initiative under the slogan "Our Facade is Green." This initiative aims to bring about a qualitative shift in urban landscape by improving the facades of commercial establishments and integrating greenery into the built environment, with active community participation seeking to transform commercial streets into spaces that are both human-friendly and environmentally friendly.
National context and ambitious vision
This initiative aligns with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 , specifically within the Quality of Life Program and the Green Saudi Arabia initiative, which aim to increase vegetation cover and reduce carbon emissions. This step is particularly significant in Qatif Governorate, given its historical legacy as a renowned agricultural oasis. The initiative aims to restore the region's green identity and integrate it with modern urban development, thereby strengthening the residents' emotional connection to their environment.
Al-Fath Street... the starting point
The mayor of Qatif Governorate explained that the first phase of the initiative focused on Al-Fath Street, a vital artery in the governorate. Technical and human resources were mobilized to transform the street's facades into aesthetically pleasing visual models that reflect the governorate's renewed identity and eliminate visual distortions that could negatively impact public taste.
33 volunteers leading the change
Thirty-three volunteers, representing a commendable model of social responsibility, are participating in this field campaign. These volunteers provide guidance and support to business owners to ensure the initiative's standards are implemented accurately and professionally. The fieldwork focuses primarily on addressing and removing all forms of visual pollution from signs and facades, replacing them with aesthetically pleasing touches based on geometric harmony and overall cleanliness.
Expected environmental and economic impact
The importance of the "Our Green Front" initiative extends beyond aesthetics to encompass significant environmental and economic dimensions. Environmentally, planting sustainable trees and shrubs in front of shops helps moderate temperatures and reduce the urban heat island effect, as well as purify the air. Economically, improving the appearance of shops and planting greenery along sidewalks attracts shoppers and stimulates commercial activity, as studies have shown that green environments increase consumers' desire to shop and socialize.
Positive interaction and community partnership
The first phase of the initiative included visits to 23 shops, where field teams recorded a remarkable response and great enthusiasm from shop owners to participate in improving the external appearance of their establishments. The merchants demonstrated a clear commitment to contributing to the beautification of their storefronts, emphasizing their awareness that improving the urban landscape positively impacts their business activity and customer comfort.
Engineer Al-Qarni concluded his statement by emphasizing that this step comes as an activation of the concept of community partnership, and seeks to raise the level of environmental awareness among residents and business owners about the importance of vegetation cover within cities, to create an integrated urban environment that balances commercial development and environmental sustainability.
