Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Sudais, Head of the Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, inspected late Tuesday night the lighting, air-conditioning, fire-extinguishing and sound systems at the Grand Mosque annex that can accommodate more than 400,000 worshipers. — SPA Badea Abu Al-Naja Saudi Gazette
MAKKAH – Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Sudais, Head of the Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, made late Tuesday night an inspection tour of the ongoing expansion work at the Grand Mosque. Speaking to reporters, he said that serving the holy mosques and the pilgrims as well as extending to them the best possible facilities is a great blessing from Allah Almighty to this great nation, its leaders and people. “We are honored by the order and directive of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to open the ground floor, first floor and the first mezzanine of the annex of the Grand Mosque and its outer squares. We are also witnessing the unprecedented progress in the expansion of the mataf (circumambulation area around the Holy Ka'aba),” he said, adding that the Umrah pilgrims and visitors of the Grand Mosque will take advantage of the first phase of the expansion project in the holy month of Ramadan. Accompanied by Maj. Gen. Yahya Al-Zahrani, Commander of the Security Forces at the Grand Mosque, Sheikh Al-Sudais inspected the lighting, air-conditioning, fire-extinguishing and sound systems at the new building and its squares that can accommodate more than 400,000 worshippers. He also toured the new areas for ablution and toilets. He urged Muslims not to repeat Haj or Umrah so as to facilitate performance of the obligatory ritual by those who did not perform it before. Sheikh Al-Sudais also inspected the first phase of the mataf expansion project, especially the temporary mataf area for the pilgrims with special needs that can accommodate 1,500 people per hour. A major workshop on the expansion project and the services rendered to the faithful is underway in Makkah. On Tuesday, King Abdullah ordered the partial opening of the new expanded building of the Grand Mosque. The building is part of the largest ever expansion in the history of the Grand Mosque, launched by King Abdullah in August 2011, at a cost of SR80 billion.
