Saudi Gazette report JEDDAH – Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah Region, has said that the Kingdom does not seek any economic benefits from the development projects it has implemented and will implement in the Two Holy Mosques. In a press statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency on Wednesday, the Emir said that the government provides these services because of its responsibility toward the guests of Allah. He said the reports published in a section of the press about financial returns from Haj and Umrah seasons were inaccurate. Allah has bestowed on the Kingdom the honor to serve pilgrims, Prince Khaled said, reiterating that all projects being implemented and those which will be implemented seek to serve pilgrims and visitors. He said that the Kingdom under the leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and Crown Prince Salman is making all efforts to serve the guests of Allah for the sake of Allah. It expects rewards from Allah only. He added the Kingdom has mobilized all its potential to help pilgrims perform their rituals in as much comfort as possible.
Mentioning the current expansion being implemented in the Grand Mosque, the Emir said that it was the largest of its kind with an area covering 400,000 square meters. Once completed, it will accommodate two million Muslims. The expansion project consists of courtyards, bridges, health centers, a civil defense center, and a polyclinic. Talking about the expansion of the Al-Masa, he said that it can now accommodate 188,000 Muslims per hour and the Mataf area can accommodate 105,000 Muslims an hour. Prince Khaled said that the gigantic public transport project for Makkah will cost SR69 billion and will be implemented in three phases. The King Abdullah Construction Project focuses on crowd management and the development of public transport networks. It also aims to increase the capacity of Mina and link road networks in Makkah with the Grand Mosque. Al-Jamarat Bridge has now five floors and can admit 300,000 pilgrims per hour and another seven floors will be built in the future to accommodate five million pilgrims. Around SR300 billion has been allocated for Makkah's road projects. The Ministry of Haj has submitted plans to build a pilgrim city inside Makkah, a city which can provide pilgrims with all services and which has residential units, museums, and other services.
