Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Wednesday launched a development project next to Mecca’s Grand Mosque that will add about 900,000 indoor and outdoor prayer spaces, the company carrying out the project said.
The 12 million square meter mixed-use project, called “King Salman Gate”, will improve access to the Grand Mosque, RUA AlHaram AlMakki said, without providing details on its cost or completion date.
The Grand Mosque of Mecca is the holiest and largest mosque in Islam and the focal point for millions of people participating in the Haj pilgrimage each year.
Saudi Arabia is in the midst of an economic transformation plan known as Vision 2030 aimed at reducing its dependence on oil by investing billions in sectors like tourism and infrastructure.
The Haj plays a vital role in Saudi Arabia’s economy, which aims to welcome 30 million people for the Haj and the annual Umrah pilgrimage by 2030.
In 2019, Saudi Arabia earned around $12 billion from the two pilgrimages, according to official data.
Saudi Arabia’s market regulator said this year it would allow foreign investment in listed companies that own real estate in the holy sites of Mecca and Medina.
