Up to 691 families Al-Ais are staying in Yanbu hotels and furnished apartments at government expense. These are people who were evacuated from the earthquake prone region. Property owners have expressed concerned that their continued presence will negatively affect business and cause huge losses.
The families from Al-Ais are provided furnished apartments discounted between SR100 and SR350 depending on the number of rooms. Many Saudi families visit Yanbu during the summer season and rent prices often go up as high as SR1,000. Occupancy rates of both hotels and furnished apartments often reach 100%. However, a hotelier said “the continued stay of evacuees in our apartments at prices agreed upon with the Finance Ministry will make us suffer heavy losses.”
