Expansion project at the two Holy Mosques
The expansion project at the two Holy Mosques constitutes the most important project ever implemented by the Saudi government for the service of Islam and Muslims.
The Saudi government spent more than SR 70 billion for the implementation of this great project.
The area of the expansion project at the Holy Mosque of Makkah amounts to 76000 square meter.
Following the implementation of the expansion project, the area of the Holy Mosque has increased to 356,000 square meter including the open spaces surrounding the Holy Mosque .
Before the implementation of the expansion project the area was not more than 152,000 square meter.
The capacity of the Holy Mosque has jumped from 340,000 worshippers to 770,000.
The number of the worshippers can be doubled at the peak days.
Arrangements are underway to implement other important projects at the Holy Mosque of Makkah.
As regards the Prophet's Mosque, Late Custodian of the two Holy Mosques King Fahd bin Abdulaziz during his visit to the mosque in October 1982 ordered to start the implementation of the expansion project at the mosque.
In 1405, King Fahd laid the foundation stone of the expansion project.
The total area of the mosque after implementing the expansion project has jumped to 98,500 square meter, and the capacity of the mosque has become more than 270,000 worshippers.
The expansion project included open spaces around the mosque with an area of about 235,000 square meter. This development has increased the capacity of the mosque to more than 730,000 worshippers, and the number of the worshippers can be increased to more than one million at the peak days.
On 14.7.1426, the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz ordered to complete the remaining works of the expansion project at a total cost of SR 4.7 billion.