In realization of the importance of the Two Holy Mosques, the Kingdom has spent more than SR70 billion to implement expansion projects at the Two Holy Mosques in Makkah and Madina in recent years. The Kingdom's leadership has shown its keenness to provide all modern facilities to the millions of pilgrims who throng the Two Holy Mosques all through the year, especially during the holy month of Ramadan and the Haj period. Following the expansion project, the total area of the Grand Mosque in Makkah has increased to 356,000 square meters from 152,000 square meters. Arangements are under way to carry out new projects in the future. The huge project at Jamarat zone was implemented at a total cost of about SR4 billion. As regards the Prophet's Mosque, the late King Fahd laid the foundation stone for expanding the mosque in Safar 1405 Hijra. The expansion area amounts to 82,000 square meters. The expansion also included an area of about 235,000 square meters at the areas surrounding the mosque. These expansions will raise the capacity of the mosque to more than 730,000 worshippers and on some occasions to more than a million worshippers. In 2005, King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques ordered the completion of the remaining works at the Prophet's Mosque at a total cost of SR4.7 billion. In line with the Royal Order SR 10 billion from the surplus of the fiscal year 1426-27 Hijra budget was distributed for a period of five fiscal years effective from the fiscal year 1427-28 Hijra for implementing the projects of the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the holy places.
