Ministry of Hajj
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Largest ever expansion of the Haram in Makkah (2008)

May 2008 Aware of the needs of millions of pilgrims who visit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia every year to perform Hajj and Umrah, the Kingdom has decided to begin the largest ever expansion of the Haram in Makkah Al-Mukarramah with implementation of the Masa’a (Sa’y area) project, with the Masa’a area being expanded from 29,400 square metres to 87,000 square metres. This will mean almost three-fold increase in the number of pilgrims who will be able to perform Sa’y between the hills of Safa and Marwa. Before the expansion 44,000 pilgrims were able to perform the ritual every hour. On completion, the number is expected to rise to 118,000 pilgrims per hour. Likewise, the Masa’a area currently accommodates 42,000 people praying. This will increase to 115,600 after the Masa’a expansion. The first phase of the SR2.985 billion Masa’a expansion is almost complete while the second stage began days after the 1428 AH Hajj season. The General Presidency for the Affairs of Al-Masjid Al-Haraam and Al-Masjid Al-Nabawi, which has undertaken the expansion project, has also installed advanced cleaning systems for the Grand Mosque’s carpets and Zam Zam water drums at both the Harams in Makkah and Madinah. Under the new system, more than 6,300 drums can be cleaned and disinfected in a week. The Presidency has also established a technical unit to maintain and supervise the Haram’s computer networks and the Internet systems. Arrangements have also been made to train the employees working at the Haram. Currently, air-conditioning is available only in the part of the Haram built during the reign of King Fahd, but King Abdullah has now ordered the air-conditioning of the whole built-up area of the Haram. According to the details provided by the Presidency, the last expansion of the Masa’a (Sa’y area) was carried out in 1953 (1373 AH). The latest expansion started on February 9, 2007 and is expected to take three years. The expansion will include ground, first and second floors. A mezzanine floor will also be added to the structure to add space and thereby reducing the volume of pilgrims at one place. The area, 20 metres wide and 390 metres long, represents the eastern area parallel to the Masa’s. The minaret on the Safa hill will also be replaced. The new one will be of the same height (95 m), but the dome will be wider and thus more spacious. The Masa’a area on the roof will also be covered to allow the pilgrims to perform Sa’y during all types of weather, with ease and comfort. More than 3,000 people are working on the project around the clock. Temporary entries and exits have been made to help streamline the ritual and a guidance system has been installed to help pilgrims find their way in the Haram. Among the various new features of the Masa’a will be lifts and moving straps. A large number of lifts has been added to facilitate the speedy entry and exit of pilgrims from the area. The lifts will have doors on both sides so that pilgrims will exit the lifts from one door while other pilgrims will enter the lift from anther door, thus avoiding a crush. The lifts will be able to carry 30 people at a time and will also facilitate entry for the wheelchair-bound pilgrims. There are also moving straps to make it easier for the elderly and the disabled to perform the rituals. The Masa’a area will be air-conditioned and fitted with latest sensitive phonic system and cameras to help the security personnel to monitor the rush in the area. As well as the Masa’a area, other projects have been approved which will provide additional space to accommodate 500,000 pilgrims, taking the Haram capacity to 1.2 million people. Work on these projects has started, with properties in the Abu Sufyan Street, Raquba, Abdullah Ibn Zubair Street, Shamiya, Jebel Hindi, Khaled Bin Waleed Street and Shubaika being demolished. SR6 billion has been allocated to compensate the owners of the 1,000 buildings located close to the Haram. New courtyards and new hotels will be built to accommodate the ever-increasing number of pilgrims. Last year, the Presidency implemented several utility and services projects at a cost of SR1.2 billion. The projects included updating of the Haram’s cleaning system, improvements in the production of Kiswa, new furnishings, new signposts and instruction boards in different languages. Other activities in the Haram included updated arrangements for the disabled pilgrims at the northern square; more than 110 shelves for the Holy Quran on the ground floor and larger escalators leading to the bus stop at the western square. The Ajyad pedestrian bridge project that links the first floor of the Haram Mosque with Ajyad Street has also been completed with the aim of easing crowding during peak hours. In January, the Shoura Council recommended additional budget allocated to the Presidency to help it extend better services to the pilgrims and conduct scientific research pertaining to the Two Holy Mosques. Source: Haj & Umra Magazine