IMPACT OF DEVELOPMENT-INDUCED DISPLACEMENT ON SOCIO-ECONOMIC WELL-BEING OF MAKKAH RESIDENTS, SAUDI ARABIA

Abstract

In the 21st century, the provision of urban infrastructure and services to meet growing needs and aspirations has intensified displacement, particularly in informal settlements. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, particularly Makkah, is undergoing massive urban development projects cutting across informal settlements, which have displaced several households. The study explored the impacts of development-induced displacement on households displaced from Jabal Al-Sherasheef due to urban development and the expansion of Masjid Al-Haram. It is underpinned by the Impoverishment Risk and Reconstruction (IRR) framework. A case study design was employed to collect data from 415 displaced persons and 10 in-depth interviews. Data collected were subjected to both descriptive (frequencies and percentages) and inferential tests (paired t-test). Findings demonstrate that there exists a statistically significant difference before and after displacement in the socio-economic parameters such as family type, tenure type, household size, income, expenditure, and access to services. Interpreted in line with the Impoverishment Risk and Reconstruction (IRR) framework, the findings imply that the Haram expansion and supporting infrastructural projects have impacted the displaced people both in terms of socio-cultural relations as well as economic well-being. There was a significant decrease in the size of displaced households and monthly income after displacement. Furthermore, there was a significant increase in the monthly expenditure after displacement. Similarly, qualitative insights indicate disruption of social structure and reduced access to services. The findings suggest that despite resettlement to formally planned areas of Makkah, the displaced persons still experience material and non-material loss and declining socio-economic well-being. The contribution of the study is to empirically operationalise the Impoverishment Risk and Reconstruction framework within the context of urban Makkah. The study recommends that policy and decision-makers integrate livelihood restoration and support, social network preservation and improved access to services into resettlement planning policies, strategies and implementation to overcome the long-term impact of development-induced displacement.