Hotel prices in Makkah go up by 60 percent (AN)
Arab News, 01/09/2008
The prices for hotel rooms and suites overlooking the Grand Mosque in the Holy City of Makkah have incresed steeply. The causes are a general shortage of land in the vicinity of the Grand Mosque and the major development projects underway to accommodate more worshippers in the Mosque during Hajj.
As a result, many pilgrims are opting for hotels and lodging houses further away from the central area where prices are lower but this brings with it the problems of transportation, especailly during rush hours.