Saudi Arabia has announced an ambitious new development adjacent to the Grand Mosque in Mecca, designed to accommodate an additional 900,000 worshippers and enhance services for millions of pilgrims visiting Islam’s holiest site each year.
The project, named King Salman’s Gate, was unveiled by the state-run Saudi Press Agency on Wednesday.
Described as an "integrated mixed-use destination," the development will combine residential, hospitality, commercial and prayer facilities while reflecting Mecca’s architectural heritage.
Spanning approximately 12 million square metres (about 3,000 acres), the project will feature extensive indoor and outdoor prayer areas, high-rise complexes, and direct links to public transport to ensure smooth access for pilgrims.
In addition, the Saudi authorities expect the initiative to create up to 300,000 jobs by 2036.
The announcement comes as part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 programme, which aims to diversify the country’s economy and boost revenues from religious tourism.
Findings suggest that Pilgrimage income, including Hajj and Umrah, was estimated at $12 billion in 2019.
Saudi Arabia is simultaneously investing in other large-scale developments in Mecca, including the Masar project, which will add at least 40,000 hotel rooms to cater for growing pilgrim numbers.
Worshippers travel to Mecca throughout the year, with numbers peaking during the annual Hajj pilgrimage. This year’s Hajj drew approximately 1.6 million pilgrims.
The King Salman Gate project follows the recent expansion of the Grand Mosque, which increased its capacity to two million worshippers.
Comments
Post a Comment