Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud paid a visit this evening to the grand mosque in Makkah accompanied by Prince Mohammed bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior. Upon arrival at the venue, the monarch was received by Prince Khalid Al-Faisal bin Abdulaziz, Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Governor of Makkah; Prince Mishaal bin Majed bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Jeddah Province; Prince Faisal bin Mohammed bin Saad bin Abdulrahman, Assistant Undersecretary of Makkah Governorate for Rights; Sheikh Dr. Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz Al-Sudais, General President of the two holy mosques affairs; and his deputy Sheikh Dr. Mohammed bin Nasser Al-Khozaim. Then the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques entered the blessed Kaaba (house of God), performed two Rakaa(s) (bows) and washed the Kaaba's wall. Then, he came out to kiss the black stone and rub the Yamani corner. After that, he inspected the third phase of the Mataf's (circumambulation's) capacity upgrading project where the King was received by Dr. Ibrahim bin Abdulaziz Al-Assaf, Minister of Finance, Mohammed bin Humoud Al-Mazyad, Assistant Minister of Interior, and other project's senior officials. Then, the monarch was briefed on the plans and replicas showing the implemented parts of the Holy Haram's expansion project presented by the minister of finance and his assistant, including information about the increase that would be achieved in terms of circumambulators, pilgrims, Umrah performers and visitors as well as the facilities and services to be put at their disposal following the completion of the project, whereas the total area is expected to reach 1260000 sq.m. and accommodate some 1,700,000 performers. The capacity of the project will reach 107000 circumambulator/hour. The King watched two replicas representing the holy house of god, one is for the house before the expansion and another is for it after the completion of the current expansion. The presentation was given by Eng. Bakr bin Mohammed bin Laden, the President of Saudi bin Laden Group, the executor of the project. The monarch thanked God Almighty for the comfort that the project would offer to pilgrims, including Umrah performers and visitors. He instructed the minister of interior to put all capabilities at the disposal of pilgrims and meet all the requirements needed by the holy mosque or the expansion project. Then, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques left the venue, given the same warm hospitality that he had when he received at the beginning of the visit. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques was accompanied by Prince Khalid bin Fahd bin Khalid; Prince Mansour bin Saud bin Abdulaziz; Prince Talal bin Saud bin Abdulaziz; Prince Khalid bin Saad bin Fahd; Prince Fahd bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Musaed; Prince Sattam bin Saud bin Abdulaziz; Prince Dr. Husam bin Saud bin Abdulaziz; Prince Dr. Abdulaziz bin Sattam bin Abdulaziz, Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques; Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz; Prince Turki bin Mohammed bin Fahd; Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif; Prince Nawaf bin Naif bin Abdulaziz; and Prince Bandar bin Salman bin Abdulaziz.
