Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has unveiled a major development project near Mecca’s Grand Mosque that will add approximately 900,000 new indoor and outdoor praying spaces, according to the company overseeing the plan.
The 12-million-square-meter (4.6-square-mile) mixed-use development, named “King Salman Gate,” is designed to enhance access to the Grand Mosque Islam’s holiest site and the centerpiece of the annual Haj pilgrimage.
Millions of muslim faithfuls from around the world visit the site yearly to fulfil their Islamic obligations and pray.
The Rua AlHaram AlMakki Company, tasked with delivering the project, said the initiative will significantly improve the experience of worshippers visiting Mecca, though it did not disclose the project’s cost or completion date.
The launch marks another step in Saudi Arabia’s sweeping Vision 2030 transformation strategy, which aims to diversify the kingdom’s economy beyond oil by investing heavily in tourism, infrastructure, and real estate.
The Haj and year-round Umrah pilgrimages are central to Saudi Arabia’s economy. The kingdom aims to host 30 million pilgrims annually by 2030, building on the estimated $12 billion in revenue generated from Haj and Umrah in 2019, according to official figures.
In a related move earlier this year, Saudi Arabia’s Capital Market Authority announced it would allow foreign investment in listed companies owning real estate within Mecca and Medina, marking a significant shift in policy intended to stimulate growth and attract global investors to the holy cities.
The Grand Mosque, known as Al-Masjid al-Haram, remains the spiritual heart of the Islamic world, housing the Kaaba — the most sacred site in Islam.
The new “King Salman Gate” development is expected to play a central role in accommodating the growing number of pilgrims as Saudi Arabia expands its religious tourism infrastructure.
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Thailand's government confirmed on Tuesday it will halt the implementation of an enhanced ceasefire agreement with Cambodia, signed last month in the presence of U.S. President Donald Trump and said it would explain its decision to Washington.
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