5,200 Makkah buildings to house 1.2m pilgrims (SG)
Saudi Gazette, 04/11/2008
Permits have been awarded to owners of 5,200 buildings in the Holy City of Makkah in order to accommodate the 1.2 million pilgrims expected this year. Khalidiyah, Al-Rusaifah, Shoqiya and Al-Naseem, new districts of Makkah, have been included to accommodate pilgrims. Osama Fadhl Al-Bar, Mayor of Makkah and member of the Central Hajj Committee said that arrangements have been made to transport pilgrims so that they may offer the five obligatory prayers.