On the threshold of the Holy month of Ramadan, Al-Masjid Al-Haram (the holly mosque) is getting ready to welcome Muslims from around the world. The deputy governor of Mecca inspected yesterday, Tuesday the readiness of the Holy Mosque after the completion of the new third-floor extension works.
The Holy Mosque in Mecca is the largest mosque in the world— over 1.8 billion Muslims from all over the world are obligated to perform Hajj to, the annual pilgrimage and the fifth pillar of Islam, at least once in their lifetime.
The expansion works is a $100billion effort to raise the capacity of the mosque to accommodate 2.5 millionworshippers by 2020—the third floor extension works have recently completed andthe Holy Mosque is ready to welcome visitors and Umrah performers duringRamadan, Badr bin Sultan, the deputy governor of Mecca confirmed.
This came after an inspection tour, in which he, accompanied by a number ofofficials, checked the latest redevelopment works being carried out in thenorthern squares of the Holy Mosque including the extension works, squares,terraces, and "Jerwal" tunnel, which shortens the route to the Holy Mosqueby 3000 m and facilitates reaching King Abdullah's expansion from Jaruldistrict without congestion. It is one-kilometer-longand sixteen-meter-wide, including 9 meters for pedestrians. What bestdistinguishes the tunnel are the safety, ventilation, and fire-fightingsystems, parking lots, as well as toilets and ablution spaces for men and women.
He also checked other facilities—the King Abdul-Aziz Gate, including thecompletion of finishing works, electrical wiring, and water networks. The KingAbdul-Aziz Gate project consists of 5 floors and technical means to help crowdmanagement, 137-meter-long minarets, and instructional screens.
He further checked the southern Al-Mukabariah, the central auditorium ofthe Holy Mosque where prayer announcers call for the Islamic five prayers. Allcivil works were completed and the facade covered with marble. He was alsobriefed on the progress of Waqf King Abdul-Aziz Traffic Station, which is thesecond largest transport station in Mecca. It contributes to the transport of50,000 passengers per hour between Kudai and the southern courtyard of theGrand Mosque by more than 130 buses.
