According to two Saudi professors, Jeddah's corniche now contains the world's highest polluted waters, 10 times that of the global average.
"Pollution in Jeddah city has crossed the red line, especially marine pollution. This is the reason for dead fish washing up on the shores," Dr. Ali Eshki, a professor of environmental sciences at King Abdulaziz University (KAU), said, according to Saudi Gazette.
Even beach areas newly designated for swimming – near Nowrus Square - are exceptionally toxic, Dr. Mohammed Mudarris of KAS's Faculty of Marine Sciences added, further elaborating that these areas are "not at all good for swimming."
Dr. Eshki explained that the corniche receives some 400 cubic meters of water daily directly from sewage purification plants. However, these waters are not actually treated properly, making them toxic and dangerous to marine and human life.
The polluted water could potentially lead to diseases such as hepatitis or kidney failure, according to the professor. When the waters turn reddish, the risk becomes exceptionally high and could even prove fatal to swimmers.
Dr. Mudarris also highlighted the devastation the pollution has wrought on marine life. The problem has been going on for decades, destroying coral reefs and killing sea life in the waters.
"Studies conducted on the sewage outlets in the Red Sea have found that they play a major role in polluting its waters. The pollution rate must be ascertained before opening areas for swimming in [the] Red Sea to prevent the spread of infectious diseases," he explained.
Responding to the claims made by the professors, a source at Jeddah municipality said that its plants in Zahra and Balad dumped only water drained from the streets and floodwater in the sea, according to Saudi Gazette. The source also claimed that the plants have ensured that no sewage is dumped into the waters.
Back in 2013, a study conducted by the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment revealed that all of Jeddah's beaches are polluted to varying degrees. It also found that 80 percent of the pollution was caused by government agencies, according to Arab News.
The study suggested that tackling the environmental crisis would take 15 to 20 years.
With Saudi Arabia planning to majorly develop its Red Sea coast in a bid to draw international tourists, ensuring that waters are clean and unpolluted should be an important priority moving forward.
The development project, revealed this summer, will be truly massive, covering 34,000 square kilometers – including 50 islands. This means it will span an area bigger than the country of Belgium.
The project aims to transform Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coastline into a global tourism hotspot, with luxury hotels and pristine beaches. Work on the project is expected to start within two years and will be funded by the kingdom's sovereign wealth fund.