Jeddah demolitions provoke rare display of dissent in Saudi Arabia

Residents of districts recently razed to the ground for a multi-billion dollar development in the city of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia have complained that they did not receive adequate warning or compensation when their homes and neighbourhoods were demolished.

Their anger has produced a rare outpouring of protest in Saudi Arabia on social media platforms, such as Twitter and TikTok, bemoaning what they see as the injustice and inequity of the plan to transform the area.

Bulldozers have left a swathe of Jeddah in ruins — some have described the scene as resembling the aftermath of war.