Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud launched at Al-Safa Palace today evening five projects within the Third Saudi Expansion for the Grand Mosque in Makkah, including expansion building, squares, tunnels, services building and first ring road. At the outset of the ceremony, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques was briefed on a model of the entire expansion project of the Grand Mosque and photos containing elements and components of the expansion project. A speech ceremony held on this occasion. At the outset of the ceremony, verses of the Holy Quran were recited. Then, Dr. Abdurrahman bin Abdulaziz Al-Sudais, President General of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosques, delivered a speech in which he expressed thanks to and appreciation of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud for his care and keenness of the two holy mosques. 'This historic expansion include 1,470,000 square meters. The Grand Mosque accommodates more than 1,600,000 worshipers with 78 gates at the ground floor surrounding the expansion building,' Al-Sudais said. He stressed that these historic achievements will have great and positive impact to highlight pioneering role of this blessed country and its Islamic message in spreading security, moderation, peace, love, tolerance, dialogue, harmony and convenience. Then, Dr. Ibrahim bin Abdulaziz Al-Assaf, Minister of Finance, delivered a speech in which he expressed thanks to and appreciation of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud for his care and keenness of the two holy mosques. He pointed out that the Third Saudi Expansion came as an extension of the previous historic expansions. Al-Assaf added that the expansion projects included expansion building, Masaa and Mataaf expansions, external squares, tunnels, services building, hospital, transportation stations, bridges to the Grand Mosque, infrastructure and first ring road. He stressed that the figures and statistics indicate to greatness of this achievement aiming to provide comfortable and tranquility for the worshipers. Al-Assaf added that the main building of the expansion project consists of six floors for praying, 680 electric escalators and 24 elevators for the people with special needs and 21,000 toilets and places of ablution. The ceremony was attended by Prince Faisal bin Turki bin Abdullah; Prince Khalid Al-Faisal bin Abdulaziz, Advisor to the Custodian of the Two holy Mosques and Governor of Makkah Region; Prince Abdul-Illah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques; Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz Al Saud; Prince Khalid bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques; Prince Miteb bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, Minister of National Guard; Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, President of General Commission for Tourism and National Heritage; Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior; Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al Al-Sheikh, Grand Mufti of the Kingdom and President of Senior Ulema Commission and Religious Research Administration and Ifta and a number of princes, ministers; heads of diplomatic missions of the Arab and Islamic countries and the Islamic organizations and senior military and civil officials.
