Grand Mosque Expansion

The third expansion of Masjid al-Haram, the Grand Mosque in Makkah, is 85% complete and on track for full inauguration in time for Hajj 2027. The SAR 100 billion project will increase the mosque's capacity from 2 million to 3 million worshippers simultaneously, making it the largest place of worship in the world.

Key Features

• 400,000 square meters of new prayer space across six additional floors
• Advanced air conditioning maintaining 24°C throughout, even during 50°C summer heat
• 18 new escalator towers connecting all levels
• Retractable domes allowing natural ventilation
• Complete wheelchair accessibility on all floors
• Underground car parking for 30,000 vehicles

Pilgrim Services

New services for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims include multilingual guidance systems in 20 languages, real-time crowd management using AI, medical clinics on every floor, and a smartphone app providing indoor navigation with augmented reality wayfinding.

Impact on Hajj

The expansion will allow Saudi Arabia to increase annual Hajj quotas from 2 million to 3.5 million pilgrims by 2028, supporting the Kingdom's goal of welcoming 30 million Umrah visitors annually.