econ- ct 5

Geodoumal 2 4 . 4 3 7 5 - 3 8 5 © 1991 (August) by Kluwer Academic Publishers

3 7 5

Population Density Pattern and Change in the City of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Al-Gabbani, Mohammed, Dr., King Saud University, Department of Geography, POB 2456, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT: This paper examines and assesses changes in the population density pattern in the city of Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia where the city has undergone dramatic changes in its physical as well as its social structure. Analysis of data revealed a decline in population density at an exponential rate from the city center with variation between city sectors and zones. The city's rapid horizontal expansion and dispersal of population is the result of factors such as increases in city population and in size and number of single family dwellings, widing of streets, rise in income and residential mobility rates, mass use of automobile, change in family size, zoning regulations, leapfrogging, and huge governmental city development projects. The resulting low population density pattern made it difficult for city officials to provide necessary services and facilities for the dispersed residential development. This paper recommends that city officials make real efforts and workable programs to stop or slow this uneconomical growth by improving quality of life in the central areas to make them residentially desirable by some city residents and reduce the high residential turnover the central area has experienced in last years, and to centralize peripheral growth by planning for self-sufficient satellite communities in outer areas.

Introduction

I n all cities p o p u l a t i o n are distributed u n e v e n l y in the urban space. Their d i s t r i b u t i o n has b e e n frequently related to several variables one of which is the distance from city center. The p o p u l a t i o n d e n s i t y pattern noted is the decline of d e n s i t y with i n c r e a s i n g distance from the city center in all directions?) C o l i n Clark provided a theoretical basis and e m p i r i c a l support for this view. He showed that in a wide range of cities, in different countries and at different times, p o p u l a t i o n density declines at a c o n s t a n t rate with i n c r e a s i n g distance from the city center. In plotting density v a l u e s for sub-areas against distance from city center, on a graph, a n e g a t i v e l i n e a r e x p o n e n t i a l curve can be produced. 2) D e c l i n e in p o p u l a t i o n density as distance from the city center increases has b e e n i n d i c a t e d to be m a i n l y a f u n c t i o n of the trade b e t w e e n spacious m o d e r n houses and accessibility to j o b s and other services and facilities. The poor to avoid transport costs, live closer to center. As a result, they can o n l y afford to c o n s u m e a small a m o u n t of

land, which is more e x p e n s i v e at central location, and thus live at higher densities. The rich, who can afford transport costs, live on the periphery in spacious, w i d e l y spread single residences, where land is cheaper. Prior to d e v e l o p m e n t of m o d e m transport system the m o s t h i g h l y v a l u e d residential sites were central ones. W i t h m o d e r n i z a t i o n , affluence, increase in use of a u t o m o b i l e from one side, and with aging and c o n g e s t i o n from the other, central residential sites b e c a m e less desirable. The shift in house and site preferences by the well to do s e g m e n t of society towards n e w peripheral areas e n c o u r a g e d an e v e n t u a l d e c l i n e in central densities and a d e c o n c e n t r a t i o n of p o p u l a t i o n c o n t r i b u t i n g to lower p o p u l a t i o n density and g r a d u a l l y f l a t t e n i n g the p o p u l a t i o n d e n s i t y curve.

Study Objective

The purpose of this paper is to e x a m i n e p o p u l a t i o n d e n s i t y and to assess its i m p l i c a t i o n s in the city of Riyadh,

376 Geodournal 24.4/1991

'Uyaynah N

• Jubaylah ~ ~

• QusQr AI Muqbel

0 15 30 k m I l i

• Hfiyer

I 1930 [ ] 1970

[ ~ 1960 [ ] 1988

Fig 1 Areal expansion of Riyadh built-up area

the capital o f Saudi Arabia, in view o f recent development and changes in the city population and urban structures. This research intends to show how population is distributed in the city and what factors were responsible for their distribution. Since variation in population density is considered to be one o f the most important variables in the analysis o f urban forms this study also aims to look into

Tab 1 Changes in population, area and density 1910-1987

changes and development in city structure b y means o f analyzing the present population density picture.

Importance of the Study

Residential density issues are o f concern to geographers and planners, since they have an impact on services and facilities in an area as they should be linked with the number o f people to be served. They also affect levels o f social interaction, traffic, noise and air pollution and amount o f sunshine and ventilation. Thus variation in population density is reflected in the city plans and zoning ordinances as it limits the lot sizes, numbers of building stories, street width in each district and consequently control density per unit area. As such density becomes an important issue to study especially when factors within the society encourage decreases in population density.

The Study Area

Riyadh, the capital and largest city in Saudi Arabia, in addition o f being the seat o f the government it also functions not only as an important commercial, industrial, cultural and educational center for the central region but also for the country at large. This concentration o f activities in the city is a major factor o f the c i t y ' s unprecedented growth rates which makes it one o f the fastest growing cities in the world. The city population grew from 46,000 in 1940 to 289,000 in 1968, 795,000 in 1977 and to over 1.4 million in 1987. The area o f the city has also expanded rapidly from about 25 sqkm in 1940 to reach some 1600 sqkm in 1987. The c i t y ' s tremendous growth occurred mainly during the last twenty years both in area and in population. It brought about a rapid horizontal extension with the spread o f residential as well as economic, educational and cultural activities on urban space. 3~ In 1960, none o f the city population lived more than 5 k m away from the city center, as residential development did not extend more than 9 k m north-south and 4 k m east-west. In 1986, city extension was roughly 52 km from north to south and about 30 k m from east to west.

The built up area o f the city increased from 4238 hectares in 1976 to 45,197 hectares in 1987, an increase of more than 1000 % while city population increased by about 100 %. Today the city has engulfed surrounding smaller settlements like Deriyah, Irgah, and encroaching other neighboring settlements like Hayer, Uyaynah, Jubaylah, and A m m a r i y a h (Fig 1). Since the increase in built-up area was much greater than the population increase, the city overall population density dropped considerably from 140 to 29 persons per hectare (Tab 1). We can generalize and divide the city built up area into three general zones according to location and growth stages. These are the core, the inner and outer zones.

The city core area includes Deyrah and the surrounding residential neighborhoods o f Shemasi, Ummslaim,