A Study of Informal Settlements in Makkah City : A Case Study of Al-Hudaiba Area

Abstract

Informal urbanization is a key indicator of urban imbalance in cities facing demographic and planning pressures, particularly those with religious and strategic importance, such as Makkah. In recent decades, informal settlements have shifted from the city center toward the periphery, and Al-Hudaibiyah illustrates this outward expansion, having developed outside formal planning frameworks and grown rapidly despite limited infrastructure. Although clearance and redevelopment projects improved central and middle-ring districts, they also contributed to the renewed emergence of informal growth on the urban fringe.

This study analyzes Al-Hudaibiyah by tracing its spatial and temporal transformations and assessing its current urban conditions. The aim is to interpret patterns of informal expansion, identify their main drivers, and evaluate their implications within Makkah’s broader urban context. A mixed methodological approach was used historical, descriptive, analytical, and comparative supported by GIS and remote-sensing techniques to improve spatial accuracy.

Findings show that informal built-up areas expanded by more than 328% between 2005 and 2023, following a clustered and unstructured growth pattern. The analysis indicates that redevelopment-related clearance projects are the most influential factor behind this expansion, followed by planning and regulatory gaps, while population growth plays a comparatively minor role. The neighborhood also exhibits weak infrastructure and shortages in essential services, particularly in education and healthcare, increasing its urban and social vulnerability.

The study recommends preparing a structural plan for the neighborhood, implementing phased infrastructure upgrades, strengthening institutional and community partnerships, and developing a dynamic urban database to support evidence-based planning.