Work on a giant Saudi Arabian project for expanding the areas surrounding the Holy Haram in Makkah will start shortly in order to accommodate millions of Haj and Umrah pilgrims.

The project includes expansion of the mosque's northern courtyard by 1.2 million square metres, media reports said, adding that billions of riyals had been allocated for the scheme.

Reports of the expansion plans come on the heels of a SR12 billion ($3.19 billion) Jabal Omar residential tower project on the western side of the mosque.

An announcement on the new project likely to be made in the last 10 days of Ramadan.

Six designs have been prepared by international companies for the project, which is to cover the area between the mosque and the second ring road to the north, Masjidul Haram Street to the east and Jabal Al Kaaba Street to the west.

The project also aims at providing infrastructure facilities required for security and services.

Arrangements will also be made to bring some 10,000 pilgrims near the mosque in an hour, the paper said.

The project includes construction of new multistorey buildings for residential and commercial purposes.

The area will also house headquarters of the Haj Research Centre, a centre for Islamic sciences and conference halls.

The new project comes as part of the government's efforts to enhance facilities for pilgrims.

About two million pilgrims including 1.3 million from abroad performed Haj last year.

According to Haj Minister Iyad Madani, the number of pilgrims coming for Haj this year is expected to increase by five per cent. More than three million faithful are expected to come for Umrah this year.

The Jabal Omar real estate project will change the face of Makkah.

Work on the project began in August as utility services to 580 buildings in the area were cut in preparation to demolish them and erect new residential towers designed to accommodate 34,500 people.

The Jabal Omar project is one of the largest schemes aimed at developing areas surrounding the Holy Haram.

Spread on an area of 230,000 square metres, the project includes five-star hotels, commercial centres, and prayer facilities for 200,000 worshippers.

The project will have 4,500 shops and 3,000 showrooms, a central transport station and parking facility for 12,000 vehicles.

A joint stock company will be established to implement the residential project.

"It will create a model residential and commercial centre with new roads, pathways, tunnels, electric stairs, and other facilities," said Makkah Construction Company chairman Abdul Rahman Faqeeh.

The Makkah Development Authority recently completed a survey for the project and set the market value of the real estate at SR4.2 billion.

Owners of Jabal Omar plots have the option either to join the new joint stock company or sell their property to it for development.

The project site is bordered by Umm Al Qura Street to the north, Duhlat Al Rushd to the south, Ibrahim Al Khalil Street to the east, and Al Hafaer and Al Tendbawi to the west.

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Abdullah has launched SR30 billion ($8 billion) worth of development projects in the holy city of Mecca, including a plan to expand part of the Grand Mosque, a Saudi newspaper reported.

Crown Prince Abdullah gave the go-ahead for the massive projects during a ceremony held in Mecca.

Saudi authorities intend to expand part of the Grand Mosque build prayer areas to accommodate 200,000 worshippers; and construct hotels, residential towers and commercial centres, the Arab News reported.

The projects will provide more than 25,000 jobs for Saudis, according to the paper.

Saudi officials were not immediately available for comment on the projects.

Mecca's main medical centre, Ajyad Hospital, will be expanded and roads constructed to ease traffic jams during peak pilgrimage periods, the paper reported.

Analysts were quoted as saying that the projects would attract more than SR50 billion ($13.3 billion) to the city, the paper added.

Over the past two decades, the Saudi government has spent billions of dollars in developing Mecca and Medina.

Oh wheel! that is good for makkah. :)

I can't believe that they are building such a tower near the Holy Mosque. :eek: Looks a lot like those Stalin towers in Moscow. According to the site 'one of the tallest buildings in the world'.
http://img65.exs.cx/img65/1979/mecca1.jpg

http://img65.exs.cx/img65/7627/mecca2.jpg

Official website: www.abrajalbait.com

:lol: another one of the tallest

looks nice and what a location

i guess it will be around the 300 and then it's automatically in the top 30

Found that the tower will have 76 floors. With the tall spire this one will be more than 300m for sure.

Moscow State University meets Detroit's Renaissance center...

...in Mecca. :cool:

Though im so and so about the design, i love the fact that its going up in mecca!

That's one ugly (...) . The old design was much better. But I guess they liked the idea of having a really tall tower, instead of a collection of smaller ones.

BTW, the height of the tallest tower is 485m

The old masterplan: http://www.trhamzahyeang.com/project/masterplans/jabal01.html

Stopping to think for a second, I've realised these are two different projects. Abraj alBayt has nothing to do with Jabal Omar!

that's taller than petronas and US7, so technically speaking, this should be in the top 5 or 6 when completed. Am not sure though about the location, looks like it's in the wrong place.

Abraj al Bait construction pics:

http://www.dargroup.com/pix/casestudies/zone4/188_S0101.jpg
http://www.dargroup.com/pix/domains/zone3/129_S101.jpg

that site is huge, keep us updated, I'd love to see this one go up quickly.

can someone post this in the world construction threads to show other people that its not just Dubai booming

sure i'll do that.

can we be sure the abraj al bait is 485m??
hijazzey - where did you get that height from?

http://img65.exs.cx/img65/7627/mecca2.jpg

i mean it looks tall, but does it look like 485??

that's exactly what i wanted to ask dubai-lover. we need height confirmation?

This tower is huge, very wide! :runaway:
it says 485m in here: http://www.abrajalbait.com/about.html
press NEXT button and in the second page it says "At 485 meters tall, Abraj Al Bait will be one of the tallest buildings in the world"

I got the number from the same place dazz got it.

ya thanks i just realized that while going through the website.

Didn't see that the first time, thanks. That podium must be very tall, almost 100m.

Hey guys, many of you have probably seen this, but I just thougth it would be worth mentioning. Abraj Al Bait Tower will be located within close proximity of the Holy Mosque in Mecaa. This will be on of the most luxurious projects ever undertaken in Saudi Arabia. The tower complex, totaling 1,400,000 square meters, will include luxury hotels, a posh mall, and studio appartments leased on a time share bassis. According to skyscrapers.com the Bait tower will be approximately 485 meters (or 1591 ft) tall, thus easily placing it in the global top 10 tallest, and making it the second tallest in the Middle East.

www.abrajalbait.com

Mecca seems to be riding the crest in the Saudi real estate development boom. Three mega projects within close proximity of each other (ZamZam Towers, Abraj Al-Bait, Jabal Omar Towers). I don't recall where I read this, but they were talking about how expensive land plots around the Grand Mosque have become. In some cases 100,000 dollars per m2. If prices have really hit that high, it would make sence to start building vertical instead of the horizontal that we have been seeing accross Saudi

Mecca needs a serious long needed overhaul. There needs to be a well managed plan for the whole area. these little fix-it solutions wont do it anymore. My family just came from Hajj, and the traffic there was crazy. I say its about time to destroy old mecca and rebuild the whole area... also a serious public transportation solution is needed... im against using cars there.. they cause traffic ..

Al Bait Towers 485 m
:runaway:
in Mecca
Saudi Arabia

:eek2: :eek2: :eek2:
http://www.skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=34622

:) Saudi Arabia cooool :)

Dude, we've done a thread for it ages ago here it is: http://skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=157168&highlight=Mekkah

Al Bait Towers 485 m
:runaway:
in Mecca
Saudi Arabia

:eek2: :eek2: :eek2:
http://www.skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=34622

:) Saudi Arabia cooool :)
Not bad at all. Who's the contractor on this. This gotta be Saudi's tallest tower.

Not bad at all. Who's the contractor on this. This gotta be Saudi's tallest tower.

I think it's Bin Ladin Group.

PARIS (AFX) - Accor said it won a contract to manage a hotel with 1,240 suites in Saudi Arabia.
The Zam Zam Sofitel Grand Suites hotel, being built at a total cost of 600 million USD and scheduled to open in Sept 2006, is the 'largest, most luxurious hotel in the Middle East/Africa region,' Accor said.
With a convention centre, a shopping centre and a floor of restaurants, it will have a capacity for 6,000 customers and employ 1,500 people.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v647/jwakim/Mecca.jpg
This is a general shot of Mecca. The Sofitel Hotel will be located in the Zam Zam Tower complex (complex in the middle of the photo with all the construction equipment), currently being developed by the Saudi-Bin Laden Group. The Tower will be 485 m (or 1,600 ft) high, thus making the tallest in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and one of the ten tallest of earth.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v647/jwakim/Picture1.png
This building is massive. Are they considering the entire development as 1 tower? Or are they also considering the others that are only connected to the main one by a podium and sky-bridge?

I just think of the Empire State Building in New York everytime I see this building...

seriously thought its nice looks like an islamic empire state building ;)

i heard there is opposition in Makkah against this building, is it true? but the saudi government never listens to the people.

I never heard of any oppositions.

where do you live?

What does the government have to do with the building and opposition towards it? The tower is being developed by a private firm on privately purchased land, and is being used for commercial purposes. Plus, this is the only viable solution to Mecca's conjestion problems. If the Saudi's plan on hosting more pilgrims in good living conditions, the only way you can do that is in towers, I highly doubt Mecca, and especially the area around the Grand Mosque has any space left for delapidated 5 storey buildings. I'm really impressed by the developments that are going around the Grand Mosque, I mean in another 6-7 years that area will have a skyline that will match that of any first class city. I look forward to hearing about more of these developments in that area. I'm just sad i'm not allowed to go and see them.

I really don't want to offend anyone. And I understand the Saudi perspective on this. But IF (and this is reallllllllllyyyy far fetched), IF the Saudi government somehow was to allow non-muslims to also visit Mecca, I swear and this is being conservative, Mecca will outstrip Dubai in tourist numbers in ONE year. Everyone here in the west see's the city as this mystical place....for god's sake, its like the birthplace of one of the world's greatest religions. People love to see historical sites with such epic proportions

ZamZam tower is part of King AbdulAziz Waqf. "Waqf" in Islamic law means a foundation that no one owns it and its income goes to chairty. The site is owned my this foundation and the lots were leased out to real estate companies for 25 years or so. The income from the lease will go to muslim charity.

Regarding the tourism to Makkah, it is the Islamic law not the Saudi government that's not allowing non muslims from entering makkah. If the Saudi government allows non muslims to visit the holy sites, all of the muslims will be offended and will rage against Saudi Arabia.

So, I don't think this option is avaiable. But as you said, IF it's available, then Makkah can be a major tourist attraction in the region, if not the world.

50% of mecca are indians and paki laborers lol. guess so it will turn like dubai with a pop of 80% non-locals...

50% of mecca are indians and paki laborers lol. guess so it will turn like dubai with a pop of 80% non-locals...
Most of them are illega :runaway:

no, skyfan some even have saudi passports!

The Abraj al-Bait thread from the world forums:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=250064&page=1&pp=20

It's updated more frequently.

I say its about time to destroy old mecca and rebuild the whole area...

:?

WOW! destroy old mecca are you nuts? then you better also destroy al-ka'ba it IS! a part of old mecca...

destroy the heritage of the city of islam... I actually met with 3 saudis who were deprived of their right, the goverment took their houses in old mecca and demolished them to build a hotel and didnt pay them a peny!... the worst part of it isnt just killing old mecca but killing the PEOPLE of mecca... there is an article on al-sharq al-awsat about mecca being the poorest arab/gulf city (where locals are poorer than indian and paki laborers!)

Not again :runaway:

deja vu?

deja vu?
huit you took the words right out of my mouth

^ :)

iam so against those new buildings close to the great mosque.

people should understand that this city is a holy city for worshipping not commercial and the best view of the mosque !!

plus that i noticed that this very important city doesn't has any green !! no parks nothing!!
:(

I am all for new buildings especially in Makkah, It has practical value too, more and more people are performing the Hajj and umrah pilgrimage than ever before, infrastructure thus must be improved to keep with this pace. I'm glad the Saudi Authorities can see the need for this.

However, the design of ABarj Al Bait, kind of ghastly if you ask me...

building 400+ mega size scraper on front of the holy mosque doors is not improving the infrastructure.what they could do is to build residential complex just on the outskirt of the city and connect them with the mosque by means of subways systems so the pilgrims can go to the mosque and perform their prayers ,now i can say this is an improvement of the infrastructure. :)

building 400+ mega size scraper on front of the holy mosque doors is not improving the infrastructure.what they could do is to build residential complex just on the outskirt of the city and connect them with the mosque by means of subways systems so the pilgrims can go to the mosque and perform their prayers ,now i can say this is an improvement of the infrastructure. :)

i thought so too. but when hajj comes around - this is not feasible whatsoever.

but killing the PEOPLE of mecca... there is an article on al-sharq al-awsat about mecca being the poorest arab/gulf city (where locals are poorer than indian and paki laborers!)

just a fact - many people in mecca are illegal immigrants. those who get into the city, but cant be deported because their in the confines of a holy city.

just a fact - many people in mecca are illegal immigrants. those who get into the city, but cant be deported because their in the confines of a holy city.


are those who came to mecca 400 and 700 years ago and those who were locals of quraysh are illegal immigrants? actually the illegal immigrants make up 80% of the labor force in construction and they are the ones who get the low income houses... go read the article on asharq al-awsat we are talking about the locals hey! not the immigrants....

are those who came to mecca 400 and 700 years ago and those who were locals of quraysh are illegal immigrants? actually the illegal immigrants make up 80% of the labor force in construction and they are the ones who get the low income houses... go read the article on asharq al-awsat we are talking about the locals hey! not the immigrants....

dont the immigrants make up most of the 'local' poplulation then? by local i mean the ones living in close proximity to the Holy Kabaa.

If there is one place in the world that needs skyscrapers, its Makkah. Makkah is surrounded with mountains and is located in a valley. There isnt much land in this area and the only way one can expand is upwards. There is nothing wrong with building high rise buildings in front of the mosque. Pilgrims need hotel rooms near the mosque and skyscrapers make this possible. By having more rooms, skyscrapers also help decrease the daily rates of the hotel rooms (the equation: more rooms and less people occupying them= cheaper rooms). Building skyscrapers doesnt mean that you are commercializing an area. People do need to go somewhere to sleep and eat. Makkah never had any proper food courts so people had to take the food to their rooms or eat outside. The food court of Abraj Al Bait will solve this problem. Also keep in mind that people who live in makkah would also like somewhere to go shopping because if they live there, they would want to do something besides staying in the mosque the whole day. Obviously, pilgrims would want to be in the mosque all day but this doesn't apply to the people who live there. Im sure that during the Prophets time, there were shops and commercial areas.

Zamzam Tower development process started in November 2002 by excavating the surrounding Mountains and preparing the site, since then Zamzam Tower in under a massive Development & Construction operations using state of the art constructions techniques, the main focus after establishing the project foundation and excavating the surrounding Mountains is to construct the tower's floors using pre-cast technology which will cause the development rate to grow rapidly. Zamzam Tower will be completed and ready for operation within the first half of the year 2006.

http://www.zamzamtower.com/images/060502.jpg
(June 2005)

www.zamzamtower.com

Abraj Al Bait

http://skyscraperpage.com/graphics/dotclear.gif

Description
The building will house a total population of 65,000

The towers have a combined floor area of 1,500,000m² and a site area of 34,794m²

The building will cost an estimated US-$ 2 billion

The towers include:
- 6 residential towers (27-33F) 302,000m² 864 units
- 60F 5* 2,000 key hotel
- convention centre for 1,500 persons
- prayer hall for 3,800 persons
- 4 story parking for 780 cars and 10 busses
- 2 heliports

With the industrialization and growth of the Muslim population, more and more Muslims are able to afford to conduct the Hajj, the pilgrimage to the mosque at Makkah. This has led to a booming hotel industry in the city.

This complex directly across from the main gate of Makkah's mosque features as its centerpiece a hotel geared towards the profitable Muslim pilgrimage business. The hotel boasts direct views into the courtyard of the mosque itself.

Aside from the 5-star hotel itself, there are also apartments, a convention center, an intermodal transit station, and a 4-story shopping mall which features themed areas resembling traditional markets in different parts of the Arab world.

The name of the building means "The House" and is a reference to the holy Ka'aba within the mosque across the street, which is the Islamic house of Allah. Construction is estimated to cost $1.6 billion US dollars and will be done by the Saudi Binladen Group.

Architect: Dar Al Handasah Architects

http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/500/4023mecca2.jpg

http://www.abrajalbait.com

Looks nice:)

I LOVE IT!

theres a lot of cosntruction pics somehwere on this forum, gonna try n find the link

try this link http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=250064

A friend of mine is going to Hajj this year. I asked him to take lots of pictures of this project.

Hi,

For some reason, even though i love tall buildings, i dont like the idea of tall buildings in Makkah or Medina! It just doesn't really give a spiritual look!

But thats just my own thoughts.

Peace.

^ i'll kinda second your thoughts. but i think what the problem is that theres not much space in makkah and madina. thus we are seeing tall buildigns. it will be wrong to say that this is entirely because of less space. its also because the builders want to make huge amoutns of money by charging people sky high prices to stay in these places.

what do u guys think>?

^^^I think you guys have valid points but high rise in Makkah is a necessity. Higher buildings/hotels means more rooms which means cheaper rates. It is true that most of these projects are five star hotels but I think it is better than nothing. Makkah has an old infrastructure and old buildings which are not in great condition (which was what happened yesterday when the hotel collapsed). These projects not only introduce new places to eat and relax when you are not in the mosque but also help the infrastructure. Makkah will have an improved road system thanks to these projects (mainly Jabal Omar) and these developments include subway/mass transit stations, which indicates a public transport system coming into Makkah. And if Saudi wants to make money out of this thing, I dont blame them because they are not causing any harm to anyone and anyone in their position would want to use this opportunity to diversify the economy and create jobs for the loads of unemployed people. People also live in Makkah and they obviously have lives away from the mosque so they deserve a place to relax, eat, and shop. And consider the fact that the Muslim population is increasing like crazy and these high rise projects are needed to accomodate them, especially in the future. With Jabal Omar, Jabal Khandamh, Jabal Kabah, and this project, Makkah a much better infrastructure. But dont get me wrong, I am totally against demolishing historic places but in Makkah there arent many historic houses/ buildings aroung the mosque and most of them are too dangerous. And I think whoever visits Makkah has no desire whatsoever to check out these old places. So it might be better in some cases to go with the new and make life much easier. But I do believe that demolishing Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) house was not necessary and was the biggest mistake.

VC15nets,

No historic buildings in Mecca!!!! There WERE many, unfortunately, over 95% of historical Mecca has been demolished (Medina is no different). When you develop an area, it must fit in with the built environment, and features of significance have to be preserved.

Can we discuss Abraj Al Bait and not the historic buildings of Mecca?

these project is one of the best things the goverment did
there more space for prayer
more rooms for stay near holy mosiq
shoping center
Restaurant
and Modren icon for Makkah

waht we need more???

last things its not mistak if its near the holy mosiq WHY becouse ask youself what al harm mean?? its just for walk around al kaba and walk between al safa wa almarwa and not for siting and sleep the size of Mosiq now its last horizontal limited but they can build vertical

http://www.cgarchitect.com/user_artwork/Abraj-A.jpg

http://www.cgarchitect.com/user_artwork/Abraj-B.jpg

http://www.cgarchitect.com/user_artwork/Abraj-D.jpg

http://www.cgarchitect.com/user_artwork/Abraj-C.jpg

http://www.cgarchitect.com/user_artwork/Abraj-J.jpg

http://www.cgarchitect.com/user_artwork/Abraj-I.jpg

http://www.cgarchitect.com/user_artwork/Abraj-G.jpg

http://www.cgarchitect.com/user_artwork/Abraj-H.jpg

http://www.cgarchitect.com/user_artwork/Abraj-F.jpg

This was posted by Riyadhi in the Construction Updates Sub-Forum. Its an amazing diagram.

http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/3884/abraj1numcopy8kr.jpg

1- Hotel Tower 485 m (2008)
2- Hajar 260 m (2007)
3- ZamZam 260 m (2006)
4- Qiblah 240 m (2008)
5- Sarah 240 m (2008)
6- Marwah 240 m (2006)
7- Safa 240 m (2007)

^ amazing diagram indeed! btw, I believe Tower 1 is Burj ZamZam!

Too bad I cant see the diagram that I posted. The website was blocked here :(. But if I remember this, ZamZam tower will be the first to open.

Somebody in Hajj now SHOULD get us photo updates.

nov 2005
hi
these pic was taken by my frind frind ,you can see the tower behind al kaba :D
http://images5.pictiger.com/thumbs/1d/41a4cf5630b4b82b07075e0668711a1d.th.jpg (http://server5.pictiger.com/img/145051/picture-hosting/image-235.php)

by theway where all you guys?there no activety for 5 days???i am very busy these days sorry

Man, I can hardly see one of the smaller towers in that picture. You really need to drive to Mecca and get us a real update Saudi guy!

the probleme is i should go with my frinde because i dont have a car yet :D :D :D

You know what, I'm going to call a friend who lives in Jeddah and see if he can go to Mecca and get us some photos.

You know what, I'm going to call a friend who lives in Jeddah and see if he can go to Mecca and get us some photos.


That would be great if you could do that, We haven't had an update on this project for 4 months now. I think the last update was done sometime in Novemeber!.

This was posted in the World Forum

Jan 24, 2006

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/5131/1m1li.jpg

Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts moves to Makkah: a new hotel in the Holy City to open in 2007

In keeping with its expansion objectives across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and following the successful operation of two hotels in Madinah and two in Jeddah, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts (MH&R) now moves to Makkah.

A management contract for a new hotel has just been signed with the Kuwait based owner Hajar Real Estate Company K.S.C.C. The 5-star hotel is scheduled to open late 2007.

The new hotel is part of the towering new 'Abraj Al-Bait' complex, located directly in front of the Mosque with magnificent views of the holy shrine 'Al Kaabah al Musharafah'.

The Mövenpick Hotel & Residence Hajar Tower Makkah will offer 410 comfortable rooms and suites of the highest standard. All rooms will have wireless internet capabilities and will be fitted with LCD Televisions. The complex will also house 882 fully furnished one, two, and three bedroom residences for individual investment. The residences will be managed by Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts under a rental pool system.

'The concept enables investors to lease a fully fitted and furnished residence that may be used free of charge for a certain period yearly. Profits from the residence rental will then be distributed to individual lease holders in the rental pool,' explains Musaed Al Saber, Deputy General Manager of Hajar Real Estate Company K.S.C.C.

True to Mövenpicks' world class hospitality brand, the hotel will have one main restaurant with a capacity of 800 guests and three private lounges for 40 to 140 guests.

'We are convinced that the philosophy of genuine Swiss hospitality coupled with Mövenpicks' expertise in the Middle East and Saudi Arabian markets will also be successfully embraced in Makkah,' added Musaed Al Saber.

'The new hotel in Makkah will complement our strong presence in both Jeddah and Madinah. Visitors on their annual Hajj or Umrah pilgrimage will now enjoy Mövenpick's trademark True Excellence in Swiss Hospitality in both holy cities under the same brand,' explains Andreas Mattmuller, Senior Vice President Middle East Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts.

'We're delighted to have found a strong partner in Makkah with the Hajar Real Estate Company K.S.C.C. under the direction of Mr. Yousef Al Omar and look forward to being associated with this prestigious development,' said Jean Gabriel Pérès, President & CEO Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts.

The Mövenpick Hotel & Residence Hajar Tower Makkah is already the sixth Mövenpick property within the Kingdom of Saudi-Arabia after Jeddah (two hotels), Madinah (two hotels) and Al Khobar (opening in 2007).

FINLLY i have tons of pics for abraj al bait i will post it tomorow inshala

FINLLY i have tons of pics for abraj al bait i will post it tomorow inshala

YESSSSSSSSSSSS

Inshallah. Do it quickly bro pls.

in front

http://images4.pictiger.com/thumbs/e7/7310e5d36c3f5e0cdedef854df0b98e7.th.jpg (http://server4.pictiger.com/img/132418/picture-hosting/dsc-05280.php) http://images4.pictiger.com/thumbs/fd/d173e7c89a9e34a242f68659fedceffd.th.jpg (http://server4.pictiger.com/img/132437/picture-hosting/dsc-05281.php) http://images4.pictiger.com/thumbs/91/e426a0f70a681b746ce9b5cb36ba7b91.th.jpg (http://server4.pictiger.com/img/132440/picture-hosting/dsc-05282.php) http://images4.pictiger.com/thumbs/9f/c2b9d4bd4e77b836a6393f2f9db1609f.th.jpg (http://server4.pictiger.com/img/132442/picture-hosting/dsc-05285.php)

in side al haram

http://images4.pictiger.com/thumbs/ef/ffd44e3fb9d3d206a3049cdd0d1786ef.th.jpg (http://server4.pictiger.com/img/132458/picture-hosting/dsc-05290.php) http://images4.pictiger.com/thumbs/ff/5e5817c2be7740ecd22da4ac660bd7ff.th.jpg (http://server4.pictiger.com/img/132461/picture-hosting/dsc-05291.php) http://images4.pictiger.com/thumbs/7a/99ac18bf50816fb789f330f4bacee27a.th.jpg (http://server4.pictiger.com/img/132475/picture-hosting/dsc-05293.php) http://images4.pictiger.com/thumbs/72/e6be30796da7da7cced6d90eac2bc572.th.jpg (http://server4.pictiger.com/img/132480/picture-hosting/dsc-05297.php) http://images4.pictiger.com/thumbs/82/30bd970a4640083becd39060229fa382.th.jpg (http://server4.pictiger.com/img/132487/picture-hosting/dsc-05300.php) http://images4.pictiger.com/thumbs/40/679147531e6b88850a4be3e127638940.th.jpg (http://server4.pictiger.com/img/132489/picture-hosting/dsc-05303.php) http://images4.pictiger.com/thumbs/e9/57f3655b3bb562a9c0ffc9de9aee96e9.th.jpg (http://server4.pictiger.com/img/132501/picture-hosting/dsc-05308.php) http://images4.pictiger.com/thumbs/09/e5f0ee8b4357cb2a2e31103b5ca31309.th.jpg (http://server4.pictiger.com/img/132504/picture-hosting/dsc-05312.php)

engoy

Jazakkallah ;)

POST UR PICS IN THE CONSTRUCTION UPDATES FORUM

That's great I can see that it's progressing quite rapidly :)

That's great I can see that it's progressing quite rapidly :)

Look at the Pillars and the Islamic architecture that has been incorporated into the building!!

It looks Grand

POST UR PICS IN THE CONSTRUCTION UPDATES FORUM

where can i found these link?

anyway we can see two towers and there steel 5 tower no excst yet :cheers:

thanks i found it

You know, I think this project is magnificent, but I'm quite irked by the proximity of the towers to the holy mosque.

It's not that the towers aren't nice (OK, they do look a little Czarist), it just gives more of an image of commercialism taking over a place where more importance should be placed on religion. Don't get me wrong, the Saudis have every right to make profit out of such a lucrative market with huge demand, and I can't imagine any businessman squandering this opportunity.

I would much rather if they invested in a rapid transit system (subway) right to the mosque, and built the Abraj-Al-Bait away from the Haram. That would alleviate the aggravating traffic congestion that has afflicted Makkah, reduce air pollution (which becomes almost unbearable during summer), and would pave the way for larger projects to pop up around Makkah.

I totally agree... its almost as if the Kaaba mind as well be in the center of Manhattan with those massive towers right there.

WOW really nice pictures Saudi Guy. I have two night shots of the towers but they are way too bad comparing to yours.


Anyways, where's the 485 m tower? I can only see cranes but now concrete!

what!! you have.....post it now
however bad or good ,so what ,just post it

i should next time take some pics behinde..

What's your email Saudi Guy?

you can send me in yahoo email
zohir256@yahoo.com i have hotmail as will zohir512

sent

ok that you pics Riyadhi ,do yon know that spot you shot pics was good it make abraj al bait like skyline
anyway thanks

http://images4.pictiger.com/thumbs/83/9e77e3cae5876c6fc21b4d10972be683.th.jpg (http://server4.pictiger.com/img/189756/picture-hosting/-users-zohir-desktop-other-image-39.php) http://images4.pictiger.com/thumbs/d2/464bd3be70b03a234d4b216ee003dbd2.th.jpg (http://server4.pictiger.com/img/189772/picture-hosting/-users-zohir-desktop-other-image-40.php)

Thanks for uploading the pictures Zohir.

BTW, do you know if the construction of the Hotel tower has started?

i sure it started before 4 months or more , it should finshed in 2008
see all that carins behind it

any help

I'm not sure if this caption has been previously posted, but I thought it was very interesting...

http://www.jiwarrealestate.com/en/images/comparison_big.jpg

Excellent updates Saudi Guy. Did you Emporis them??

I'm not sure if this caption has been previously posted, but I thought it was very interesting...



All I could say is wow... This is still the most impressive project in Makkah! BTW does anyone have any construction pics during April? Let me tell you guys (for those who havent seen it in actul life), this project dwarfs everything else in Makkah including the hills! WOW!

i like this project ;)
very impressive.
love mecca.

why does it say 'Two Holy Mosque' under the picture...even so, that dude has bad grammer. should be an 's' at the end of mosque

Theres only one mosque :rofl:

http://images5.pictiger.com/thumbs/c1/aabbc81bf916253c9f9dc1f5606ceec1.th.jpg (http://server5.pictiger.com/img/256374/picture-hosting/rendring.php)

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO :badnews:
ARE THEY CREAZY NO ONE HERE ALLOWED TO USE HELOCAPTER :mad2: :mad2:

Hell Nooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!! :weird: :gaah: :rant: :no: >( :dunno: :nono: :down: :bleep: :mad: :wtf: :mad2: :wallbash: :wallbash: :wallbash:

The towers are grand!...but I dont like how they are so close and dwarf the minarets of the Holy Mosque!!

why does it say 'Two Holy Mosque' under the picture...even so, that dude has bad grammer. should be an 's' at the end of mosque

Theres only one mosque :rofl:

Its the endownment fund for the Two holy mosques in Makkah and Medina.
In Saudi, the King is called Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. Youre right, they are missing an s at the end.

The towers are grand!...but I dont like how they are so close and dwarf the minarets of the Holy Mosque!!

Maybe they'll start a project to increase the heights of the minarets to say 800+ meters someday :)

^^^ The building actually is supposed to be a minaet, as it is part of the mosque sort of say. In essence, the 485 m. structure is actually a minaet..

^^^ The building actually is supposed to be a minaet, as it is part of the mosque sort of say. In essence, the 485 m. structure is actually a minaet..

what is your source halawala?

what is your source halawala?


He has a point, There is a massive prayer hall that overlooks the Haram and you can view the Kaa'ba from the prayer hall right on the rooftop of the massive Podium.

^^Thats a pretty cool idea.

what is your source halawala?


I read it somewhere on the net and on the newspaper. Since Makkah has a law prohibiting buildings from going higher than the Haram, this building is besigned so that its roof is part of the Haram's minaret. I will look for a source later, but take my word on this.

But making it a ''minaret'' (part of the masjid al-haram) is actually haram because this building is connected into 4 (or 6) others and some are residential, meaning... ppl will sleep there, there will be bathrooms,etc. (u know what i mean) so islamicly it cannot be part of the masjid al haram because a masjid cannot be a commerical/residential place at the same time. It can be a place to stay for the homeless but not as a valid housing facility.

And to be part of the Masjid al-haram it has to be connected to it because if you look at the distance its very big or else all the hotels around it would make the top floor a ''minaret''.

Don't take it offensively guys but before continuing on this discussion do you think its not haram to have a masjid that is also commercial and residential? (some might find it neat but as you know it, its haram).

^^ Are you a mufti or something. I think the King of Saudi Arabia knows what he's doing when he approved of construction of this building. Dont say its haram unless you are licensed to!

^^ Are you a mufti or something. I think the King of Saudi Arabia knows what he's doing when he approved of construction of this building. Dont say its haram unless you are licensed to!

The king of saudi arabia hardly knows how to pray and the one who told me this was a shaykh in the masjid al-nabawi... The king approoves anything that will bring him money and I don't really want to go into politics man.

btw... in Islam we can say haram if we know what is right or wrong or have evidence what is haram is to tell another muslim not to say haram because it doesnt feel his own needs.... Islam isnt communism or a dictatorship its the religion of knowledge.

btw... in Islam we can say haram if we know what is right or wrong or have evidence what is haram is to tell another muslim not to say haram because it doesnt feel his own needs.... Islam isnt communism or a dictatorship its the religion of knowledge.

No, we don't. We only clarify but we as regular Muslims cannot issue fatwas of what is haram or not based on our opinions what we think or not! I mean why should we take YOUR word for it, from someone who thinks that their king doesnt know how to pray. You clearly dont know Islam that much to HARRIM this whole project!!

Imagine the headlines in Saudi Newspapers: "Safqa Tijariyah HARIMS billion dollar project in Makkah!"

i thought there are bathrooms somewhere close to the mosque but not inside it.

but dont forget that when it gets too crowded like in ramadan and hajj, the people praying reaches the market and people inside the "sheraton" hotel actully pray inside the Hotel that its a continuation of the people who pray.

so this building which is "Waqqf" is very close to the grand mosque and when its get really crowded i think people will pray in it. for the same reason as when people pray inside the Sheraton which is very close to the Mosque too.

No, we don't. We only clarify but we as regular Muslims cannot issue fatwas of what is haram or not based on our opinions what we think or not! I mean why should we take YOUR word for it, from someone who thinks that their king doesnt know how to pray. You clearly dont know Islam that much to HARRIM this whole project!!

Imagine the headlines in Saudi Newspapers: "Safqa Tijariyah HARIMS billion dollar project in Makkah!"


That's the problem with the Islamic world today, every other person thinks he's a Scholar and is ready to issue fatwas. There is no consensus building and when one school of thought gains power they choose to rule everyone in a form of hegemony. That's why i'm a strong proponent of democratic principles in the muslim world, its time multiple opinions are gathered and consensus building occurs from mufti's and imams and scholars from all over the world from all sorts of Maddhabs.

to build it near the holy mecca seems okay :bash: :cheers2: :nono:

but looks like it is copied design from empire state building

Can any one upload the pics of these towers showing the construction status of this month?

i have new pics but the camera with my frind , when i get it i will post it ....

Found this on net, it's probably an old one.
http://www.paklinks.com/gsmedia/files/PaKpatriot1/here2.jpg

ma sha'a allah

Yessss it is quite an old picture..........its from the month of MARCH and this is MAY.....
I'm sure lots of changes must have been till now,thats y i'm so impatient to view today's construction pictures

Really massive.

Really massive; the Hilton will look nothing compared to this project.

pic's taken in 6 may 2006

front
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http://images3.pictiger.com/thumbs/58/82c1bfd5bb5ea4de58850c1655506858.th.jpg (http://server3.pictiger.com/img/322221/picture-hosting/dsc-05513.php) http://images3.pictiger.com/thumbs/13/f1f97cd95d0fe927b4098057b00efc13.th.jpg (http://server3.pictiger.com/img/322255/picture-hosting/dsc-05515.php)

in left side
http://images5.pictiger.com/thumbs/e4/88f3387b696377ff64f3b44c0978f2e4.th.jpg (http://server5.pictiger.com/img/327597/picture-hosting/dsc-05521.php) http://images3.pictiger.com/thumbs/44/0abbfd7705842f48aef09ff7a9979544.th.jpg (http://server3.pictiger.com/img/322262/picture-hosting/dsc-05522.php) http://images3.pictiger.com/thumbs/d2/13c702d3e9f81b478f303669600cefd2.th.jpg (http://server3.pictiger.com/img/322263/picture-hosting/dsc-05523.php)

Good job saudi guy.......i guess the pictures r not much clear..........but any ways,thnx alot

Nice pics thanks for the update Saudi guy

I wonder y they havnt started building the '76' floor tower...........i'm so thrill to see that building rising up the skyline of the great great MECCA......

Saudi Guy, thanks for the pictures :)
Please post them at the constructions update forum.

where's the construction update forum??????????? can any one tell me?

where's the construction update forum??????????? can any one tell me?
here you go Construction Updates (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/forumdisplay.php?f=537);)

:) Thank u

I like the project so much,but being so close to the holly kaaba????i donnu.it dwarfs the holly mosque :(
But this is gr8 for mecca for sure.a modern building beside the holliest islamic place.It's just amazing.Gr8 ;)

Anyone that has ever gone to Makkah for either Umrah or Hajj and who was forced to live nearly a kilometer away from the Grand Mosque due to unavailability of hotel rooms will understand the reason behind such a tall building so close it.

السعودية: «أبراج البيت» مشروع حكومي باستثمار 1.6 مليار دولار لخدمة الحرمين الشريفين

صالح الحبيب: التدفق البشري الهائل جعل مكة أهم موقع عقاري في العالم


الرياض: مساعد الزياني
القادم إلى مكة المكرمة عن طريق البر من مدينة جدة بوابة الحرمين يلاحظ من بداية حد الحرم في مدخل العاصمة المقدسة علو مبنى برج المروة أحد أبراج البيت وهو مشروع وقف الملك عبد العزيز للحرمين الشريفين والذي أمر خادم الحرمين الشريفين الملك عبد الله بن عبد العزيز ببنائه بهدف إيجاد مشروع إسلامي يعود ريعه لخدمة الحرمين الشريفين، وتذكيرا وتجسيدا لجهود مؤسس السعودية الملك عبد العزيز آل سعود، في خدمة العاصمتين المقدستين بشكل خاص وخدمة المسلمين بشكل عام.
ويعتبر مشروع أبراج البيت المطل على المسجد الحرام والذي تولت تنفيذه شركة بن لادن السعودية، احد أضخم المشاريع المعمارية في العالم، وصنف كأكبر مبنى عمراني من حيث المساحة الإجمالية على وجه المعمورة، حيث تتجاوز مساحة ارض المشروع 1.4 مليون متر مربع، ويتكون من 7 أبراج متلاصقة باستثمارات تتجاوز 6 مليار ريال (1.6 مليار دولار)، صممت على هندسة العمارة الإسلامية، ويصل ارتفاعه إلى أكثر من 400 متر هو ارتفاع البرج الرئيسي وهو الذي خصص لإقامة فندق.

الموقع: المشروع يقع في منطقة جبل بابل بأجياد في موقع يطل مباشرة على الحرم المكي الشريف ويرتبط بشكل مباشر من الشمال بساحات الحرم، ومن الجنوب بأراض جبيلة، ومن الشرق بمبان وأراض خاصة، ومن الغرب بطريق الهجرة وتخترق حدود المشروع أنفاق الطريق الدائري الأول باتجاه الشرق غرب وأنفاق كدي.

المشروع مختلف باختلاف زمانه الذي شيد فيه حيث استخدمت في بنائه آخر مواصفات البناء الحديث وسار العمل فيه على قدم وساق خلال أربع وعشرين ساعة يومياً، وحتى الآن شيد برجا المروة والصفا وجار العمل في تشييد الأبراج الخمسة أخرى وهي برج زمزم، وبرج هاجر، وبرج سارة، وبرج القبلة، بالإضافة إلى المركز التجاري، وتحمل تلك الأبراج وحدات سكنية مختلفة بأحجام متنوعة وتصاميم فريدة تطل نسبة كبيرة منها على الحرم المكي الشريف.

وذكر الدكتور صالح الحبيب، المدير العام لشركة جوار لإدارة وتسويق وتطوير العقار، أن شركته حققت مبيعات تزيد على 3.3 مليار ريال (880 مليون دولار) عن السنوات الثلاث الأولى منذ تأسيسها قبل نحو أربع سنوات، مشيراً إلى أن مبيعات الشركة للعام الماضي بلغت أكثر من 850 مليون ريال (226.6 مليون دولار)، موضحاً أنه يتوقع أداء أفضل للسنة، وخصوصاً في ظل الطلب المتنامي على خدمات الشركة محلياً وإقليميا وعالمياً.

وقال الحبيب، إن مبيعات الشركة توزعت خلال العام الماضي في مختلف مناطق العالم، حيث استحوذت السعودية ودول الخليج على نسبة 60 في المائة من مبيعات الشركة بقيمة تصل إلى 510 ملايين ريال (136 مليون دولار)، في حين بلغت حصة دول قارة خلال نفس الفترة بنسبة 25 في المائة والتي تعادل ما قيمته 212.5 مليون ريال (56.6 مليون دولار)، وذهبت حصة 10 في المائة إلى دول القارة الأفريقية بقيمته 85 مليون ريال (22.6 مليون دولار) من مبيعات الشركة، وبلغت مبيعات الدول الأوروبية 42.5 مليون ريال (11.3 مليون دولار).

وبين الحبيب أن مكة المكرمة من أكثر المدن في العالم يرتادها الزوار نظراً لمكانتها وعظم قدرها لدى المسلمين، حيث تحتضن مكة المكرمة الكعبة الشريفة، قبلة المسلمين وأول بيت وضع للناس، مما أعطاها ميزة مختلفة عن مدن العالم كلها، حيث أن مكة المكرمة تمتلك مقومات جاذبة لما تحتله من مكانة دينية، الأمر الذي يساعد أي مشروع للنجاح في مختلف القطاعات. وأشار الحبيب إلى إن عدد زوار مكة المكرمة في العام الواحد يتجاوز 6 مليون زائر من خارج السعودية، بالإضافة إلى زوار الداخل والذين يتزايدون سنوياً، وحيث أن هذا التدفق البشري الهائل جعل مكة المكرمة من أهم المواقع العقارية في العالم وجعل المنطقة المركزية المحيطة بالحرم خصوصاً من أكثر مناطق العالم كثافة سكنية، وتلبية للاحتياج الهائل والطلب المتزايد على المسكن جوار المسجد الحرام جاءت فكرة الحكومة السعودية لخدمة زوار بيت الله الحرام في مكة المكرمة عبر مشروع يليق بالمستوى المعماري الذي وصلت إليه العمارة في العاصمة المقدسة مكة المكرمة.

وذهب الدكتور الحبيب إلى أن مشروع أبراج البيت هو الأول من نوعه في مكة المكرمة كونه يمثل مدينة متكاملة الخدمات تحمل سبعة أبراج ومركزا تجاريا ومعرضا ومتحف الحرمين الشريفين ومركزا ثقافيا بالإضافة إلى مركز خادم الحرمين الشريفين الملك عبد الله بن عبد العزيز لدراسة ومتابعة منازل القمر، بالإضافة للمركز الفلكي، ومهبطين للطائرات العمودية. والمشروع يؤمن الاتصال المباشر لكافة الأبراج السكنية ومركزا طبيا متكاملا، ومواقف سيارات تستوعب ما يقارب 900 موقف سيارة، ومحطات خاصة تستوعب ما يقارب 15 حافلة، كما تم توفير أحدث تقنيات التكنولوجيا في شبكات التقنية الرقمية، ومصليات على عدة مناسيب تستوعب 33 ألف مصل، ومزودة بنحو 385 مصعدا من المصاعد بسرعات عالية جدا وسعات مختلفة، بالإضافة إلى توفير أحدث وسائل الأمن والسلامة باستخدام النظام المتكامل للإنذار المبكر ومكافحة الحريق، وتأمين خزانات مياه بسعة كبيرة تزيد على 53 ألف متر مكعب وتزويد المشروع بمحطتين لمعالجة مياه الصرف بهدف إعادة استعمالها في دورات المياه، وموقع لمعهد خادم الحرمين الشريفين لدراسات وأبحاث الحج، وموقع لهيئة الإعجاز العلمي للقرآن الكريم.

ويعتبر مشروع أبراج البيت أول مشروع في مكة المكرمة يصل ارتفاعه الى 480 مترا من خلال اكبر الأبراج وهو برج الفندق.

وذكر مدير عام شركة «جوار» انه تم تصميم المشروع بطريقة فريدة، بهدف توفير مسكن مريح متكامل الخدمات والتي يحتاجها الحجاج والمعتمرون مع تأمين سهولة حركة الدخول والخروج للسيارات والحافلات للمشروع من دون المرور باختناقات الحركة المرورية المحيطة بالحرم، وتطل على الحرم نحو 80 في المائة من الوحدات السكنية في المشروع، 50 في المائة منها تطل على الكعبة المشرفة، متوقعاً إن يصل عدد ساكني المشروع في أوقات الذروة إلى نحو 35 ألف شخص.

وكانت «جوار» قد تأسست في عام 2002 للعمل كذراع تسويقية لمشاريع مجموعة بن لادن السعودية، لتقديم خدمات البيع والتسويق لمشروع وقف الملك عبد العزيز «أبراج البيت» وفق قرار استراتيجي من قبل المؤسسين بمنحها الوكالة الحصرية لتسويق المشروع.

* الأبراج السكنية : يشتمل المشروع على عدد 6 أبراج سكنية وبرج سابع عبارة عن فندق. ويمتاز تصميم الأبراج السكنية بالمرونة وذلك بتأمين استوديوهات وشقق سكنية صغيرة وكبيرة وشقق سكنية على كامل مساحة الدور لكبار الشخصيات بالإضافة إلى تخصيص الأدوار العلوية من كل برج إلى الأدوار الملكية، والأبراج السكنية المتدرجة الارتفاع بحيث تكون الأبراج الأمامية الأقل ارتفاعاً.

* برج الصفا : البرج الأمامي ويبلغ عدد الأدوار فيه 28 دورا متكررا مكونة من 950 وحدة سكنية، ويبلغ عدد المصاعد بالبرج 27 مصعدا.

* برج المروة : البرج الأمامي ويبلغ عدد الأدوار 29 دورا متكررا مكونة من 1200 وحدة سكنية ويبلغ عدد المصاعد بالبرج 27 مصعدا.

* برج هاجر : البرج الخلفي ويبلغ عدد الأدوار 37 دورا متكررا مكونة من 1700 وحدة سكنية ويبلغ عدد المصاعد بالبرج 36 مصعدا.

برج زمزم البرج الخلفي ويبلغ عدد الأدوار 35 دورا متكررا مكونة من 1750وحدة سكنية ويبلغ عدد المصاعد فيه 41 مصعدا.

* برج المقام : البرج الجانبي ويبلغ عدد الأدوار 48 دورا متكررا مكونة من 1750 وحدة سكنية ويبلغ عدد المصاعد فيه 40 مصعدا. والبرج مزود بمهبط للطائرات العمودية.

* برج سارة : البرج الجانبي ويبلغ عدد الأدوار 45 دورا متكررا مكونة من 1690 وحدة سكنية ويبلغ عدد المصاعد فيه 38 مصعدا. والبرج مزود بمهبط للطائرات العمودية.

* برج الفندق : أكبر أبراج المشروع وهو البرج الخلفي ويبلغ عدد الأدوار 60 دورا متكررا منها عدد 26، ودور فندق، ادوار أجنحة ملكية، والباقي شقق ووحدات سكنية فاخرة. والبرج مكون من 1930 وحدة سكنية ويبلغ عدد المصاعد بالبرج (50) مصعدا. وتم تخصيص أعلى طابق في برج الفندق أطول الأبراج في المشروع لإقامة مركز خادم الحرمين الشريفين الملك عبد الله بن عبد العزيز لدراسة ومتابعة منازل القمر وعلوم الفلك وذلك كون التاريخ المعمول به في السعودية هو التاريخ الهجري، وهو الأمر الذي يحتاج لمعرفة دخول الأشهر الهجرية، ومعرفة دخول رمضان وعيد الفطر، والأشهر الحرم. وتشهد مكة المكرمة في الوقت الحالي نمواً عقارياً كبيراً عبر الأبراج التي تشيد حول المسجد الحرام وفي المنطقة المركزية وتوجد هناك مشاريع ضخمة وشركات تعمل ليل نهار للانتهاء بأسرع وقت من المشاريع العقارية والإنشائية، ليطلق عليها البعض المدينة التي لا تنام كون المعتمرين يتوافدون إليها من كل فج عميق.

وحسب التقديرات الأخيرة فإن حجم الاستثمار في مكة المكرمة يصل إلى 70 مليار ريال (18 مليار دولار)، ويزداد هذا الرقم سنوياً مع ازدياد حجم الأعمال التي تطرح بشكل دوري ولا يتأثر بمواسم العقار، لدرجة أن مكة المكرمة من أفضل المدن السعودية في التداول العقاري في فترة شهر رمضان المبارك.


http://www.aawsat.com/2006/06/10/images/realestate.367477.jpg

OMG :shocked: 18,00,000,000$ investment only surrounded AL HARAM :hammer:

Since you started it Saudi guy, why don't you translate other facts from the article :D

Does anyone know if non-Saudi Muslims will be allowed to buy condominiums in this complex? If they do that, like in Dubai, then this place will sell out very quickly as it would be considered as the best location in the Islamic world.

OMG :shocked: 18,00,000,000$ investment only surrounded AL HARAM :hammer:


How much is that $18 Billion?

yes, $18 billion

http://www.aawsat.com/2006/06/10/images/realestate.367477.jpg

What in the world is this??


Riyadhi we are in desperate need of having that article translated.

It is some sort of an astronomical research and monetoring center at the top of the Hotel tower. I'll try to translate parts of the article tomorrow.

Quick facts from the article,

-The visistors to Mecca from outside the kingdom are around 6 million a year.
-Abraj Albait is one of the largest construction projects in the World.
-It is considered the largest building in terms of build-up space.
-The project area is about 1.4 million square meters.
- It Consists of 7 conjoined towers.
- Thetotal investments in the projects are SR 6 billion ($ 1.6 billion).
-Two of the towers (Marwah & Safa) are almost complete and the other five are under construction.
-The construction at the site is going on 24 hours.
-In addition to the seven towers, the project also consists of a shopping mall, a museum, Astronomical research and monitoring center, two helicopter pads, medical center, 900 cars parking, 15 bus stops, 33,000,000 people prayer areas, 385 elevators, 53,000 cubic meter water tanks.
-The height of the hotel tower is 480 m.
-The project will host about 35,000 people when complete.

The towers are:
Safa Tower: 28 floors
Marwah Tower: 29 floors
Hajar Tower: 37 floors
ZamZam Tower: 35 floors
Maqam Tower: 48 floors + Helicopter Pad
Sarah Tower: 45 floors + Helicopter Pad
Hotel tower 60 floors
I belive that the floor counts are for the floors above the podium.

Does anyone know if non-Saudi Muslims will be allowed to buy condominiums in this complex? If they do that, like in Dubai, then this place will sell out very quickly as it would be considered as the best location in the Islamic world.

I hope they allow it.
As long as they are muslim :)

Anyone has the information of the price ?
Maybe I need to save my 50 years salary to buy something there :)

Quick facts from the article,

-The visistors to Mecca from outside the kingdom are around 6 million a year.
-Abraj Albait is one of the largest construction projects in the World.
-It is considered the largest building in terms of build-up space.
-The project area is about 1.4 million square meters.
- It Consists of 7 conjoined towers.
- Thetotal investments in the projects are SR 6 billion ($ 1.6 billion).
-Two of the towers (Marwah & Safa) are almost complete and the other five are under construction.
-The construction at the site is going on 24 hours.
-In addition to the seven towers, the project also consists of a shopping mall, a museum, Astronomical research and monitoring center, two helicopter pads, medical center, 900 cars parking, 15 bus stops, 33,000,000 people prayer areas, 385 elevators, 53,000 cubic meter water tanks.
-The height of the hotel tower is 480 m.
-The project will host about 35,000 people when complete.

The towers are:
Safa Tower: 28 floors
Marwah Tower: 29 floors
Hajar Tower: 37 floors
ZamZam Tower: 35 floors
Maqam Tower: 48 floors + Helicopter Pad
Sarah Tower: 45 floors + Helicopter Pad
Hotel tower 60 floors
I belive that the floor counts are for the floors above the podium.


Riyadhi: can you double-check the prayer area figure for the number of people it can accomodate? 33 million seems a little too high..

Hi ,
I saw the commercial in ART maybe, seems like they also offer for non-saudi buyer.

I don't remember the website .. something like ... www.awjar.com.sa , I am not sure whether it is awjar, wajar, ajwar, .. anybody happens to know this ?

Thanks

Hi ,
I saw the commercial in ART maybe, seems like they also offer for non-saudi buyer.

I don't remember the website .. something like ... www.awjar.com.sa , I am not sure whether it is awjar, wajar, ajwar, .. anybody happens to know this ?

Thanks

on art a long time ago they had a commercial for taiba project in madina but it was only for saudis, kuwaitis,qataris, bahrainis, emaratis and omanis. (the GCC members)

Hi ,
I saw the commercial in ART maybe, seems like they also offer for non-saudi buyer.

I don't remember the website .. something like ... www.awjar.com.sa , I am not sure whether it is awjar, wajar, ajwar, .. anybody happens to know this ?

Thanks

I took note last night .. it was http://www.jiwar.com.sa :D

I took note last night .. it was http://www.jiwar.com.sa :D

thanks btw I read an article on Asharq al awsat saying that saudi arabia will open mecca and medina to foreigners.

thanks btw I read an article on Asharq al awsat saying that saudi arabia will open mecca and medina to foreigners.
Great :) as long as they are moslem :) right ?

Because it is baitul Haram .. ;-)

Great :) as long as they are moslem :) right ?

Because it is baitul Haram .. ;-)

not really I talked with a friend that works in real-estate in saudi yesterday and he told me that now presently there is some few christians in mecca, many projects don't really verify if your muslim or not as long as you buy expensive appartments.

not really I talked with a friend that works in real-estate in saudi yesterday and he told me that now presently there is some few christians in mecca, many projects don't really verify if your muslim or not as long as you buy expensive appartments.

I hope they respect our islamic value there, in their behaviour and appearance

I will be very sad .. if around the holy mosque .. they start drinkin alcohol, start bringing lady to the room ( and you know what i mean ) ...

What I am afraid .. is that .. those will start ruin the most sacred place on earth ..

26 july
http://images4.pictiger.com/thumbs/fa/794a9d35db001b8ac87d50f2e5267afa.th.jpg (http://server4.pictiger.com/img/454840/picture-hosting/-users-zohir-desktop-p-1000608.php)

IMPRISIVE
finly we can seen it in 180'

my position in the map , i hope it give you full thinking about position that you can see that project when it now in ~200m high
http://images4.pictiger.com/thumbs/fd/658b2a6b8c85058b3d20f5558e76befd.th.jpg (http://server4.pictiger.com/img/454947/picture-hosting/-users-zohir-desktop-abraj-albite-2.php)

edit

I have lots of pictures of the construction of Abraj Albait, and I'm a new memmber not very familiar with this, How can I upload pictures?

I have lots of pictures of the construction of Abraj Albait, and I'm a new memmber not very familiar with this, How can I upload pictures?
Hello khalelooo,

Welcome to the saudi sub-forum ,this link might help you :)
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=8059418&postcount=1

Thank You for ur fast reply, i'm reading through the link u gave me :) i appreciate it

Latest Pic's of Abraj Albait , yet underconstruction. (pictures taken Summer 2006)

http://images6.theimagehosting.com/IMG_0122.3c8.th.jpg (http://server6.theimagehosting.com/image.php?img=IMG_0122.3c8.jpg)


http://images6.theimagehosting.com/IMG_0142.380.th.jpg (http://server6.theimagehosting.com/image.php?img=IMG_0142.380.jpg)

Salam all,

does anyone know how can i have these images in bigger size?


JAK

NICE SHOT MAN :eek: what a amezing towers
You most Repost all your pic's of ABRAJ AL BAIT in these thread also to make all world see it ether :) just copy the text and post it in that thread
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=334299

AND can i khalelooo post your pic's in EMOPRIS.COM i have Account or you can add your new account to be Saudi Photograve :cheers:

lol photo (grave) :) :)

Anyone have any pics of the other construction going around in the same city?

Salam all,

does anyone know how can i have these images in bigger size?


JAK
http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/9315/img01223c8cv9.jpg

http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/8392/img0142380xy7.jpg

:bash: :cheers: :runaway: This is one hell of a fat building my god :blahblah: :blahblah: :lurker: but infront of the holy mosque :runaway: :runaway:

I am sorry by saying this but i think it´s a horrible building. Here is even some obscenity by making this ugly tower breaking the Kaabah intimacy with such a bad taste. I can´t understand.

This is an awesome building. I think it's a great addition to Mecca.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n118/Saudi-Guy/Abraj%20Al%20Bait/AbrajAlbait.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n118/Saudi-Guy/Abraj%20Al%20Bait/Snapshot2006-10-1519-14-00.jpg http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n118/Saudi-Guy/Abraj%20Al%20Bait/Snapshot2006-10-1519-10-39.jpg
Look carefuly to these one they remove building in front Abraj Albait & there enternce from undergrond
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n118/Saudi-Guy/Abraj%20Al%20Bait/Snapshot2006-10-1519-11-20.jpg http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n118/Saudi-Guy/Abraj%20Al%20Bait/Snapshot2006-10-1519-08-41.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n118/Saudi-Guy/Abraj%20Al%20Bait/Snapshot2006-10-1519-09-29.jpg http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n118/Saudi-Guy/Abraj%20Al%20Bait/Snapshot2006-10-1519-13-12.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n118/Saudi-Guy/Abraj%20Al%20Bait/Snapshot2006-10-1519-12-00.jpg http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n118/Saudi-Guy/Abraj%20Al%20Bait/trine.jpg

new updates by Googel
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n118/Saudi-Guy/Abraj%20Al%20Bait/AbrajAlBait.jpg

old one
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n118/Saudi-Guy/Abraj%20Al%20Bait/al-bait.jpg

y du i still not see the main tower imerging?????????????????????????????

it seems stoped untle complet those four front towers!!!

not that good but anyway i posted it ,new pic in 29 Septmber 06 from web

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n118/Saudi-Guy/Abraj%20Al%20Bait/255474661_5e59e14435_b.jpg

nice

Saudi Guy,
Please confirm that the construction of the Hotel Tower has not started. It would be nice if you can go there and and take a close look at the constrion site.

i will take omrah insha allah in 4 shawal untl that i will ask theme all you want

new model
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n118/Saudi-Guy/Abraj%20Al%20Bait/15751576158515751580157516041576161.jpg

:D
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n118/Saudi-Guy/Abraj%20Al%20Bait/15751604160516061591160215771575160.jpg

I wish I could read Arabic but what is that green arrow pointing to?

I wish I could read Arabic but what is that green arrow pointing to?

it's pointing to hajar tower ;)

20 October 2006

http://images5.pictiger.com/thumbs/59/fe27ce723efa1bce66fe2bfbb6d2de59.th.jpg (http://server5.pictiger.com/img/740513/picture-hosting/-users-zohir-desktop-dsc-07529.php) http://images5.pictiger.com/thumbs/f2/62a6b818fc0bc4298c8db185f2f5aff2.th.jpg (http://server5.pictiger.com/img/740514/picture-hosting/-users-zohir-desktop-dsc-07553.php)

when i was there in 28 ramdan i walk under abraj al bait it was too huge and the main tower in ~7 or 8 floor i cant see clearly becouse the light was high.

ohh i forgot to tel you the left tower already pepole live in.

^ From these pictures, it seems that the construction on the main tower has started. All those cranes are concentrated where the tallest tower would be.

^ From these pictures, it seems that the construction on the main tower has started. All those cranes are concentrated where the tallest tower would be.

Yes, Saudi Guy said the tower is now 7 to 8 floors up. So in few months it will be clearly visible.

well,can't wait to see it completed

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n118/Saudi-Guy/Abraj%20Al%20Bait/MARKED.jpg

how much is the height of the tower at the last floor?

The height of the hotel tower will be 485 m including the spire.

nice tower. :)

this thread belongs in the saudi forum

this thread belongs in the saudi forum

:weird:

this thread belongs in the saudi forum

what is that guy smoking?:weird:

i think he posted in wrong thread!!!

taken last week

http://img159.imageshack.us/img159/2039/25122006469tn0.th.jpg (http://img159.imageshack.us/my.php?image=25122006469tn0.jpg)
http://img159.imageshack.us/img159/2806/25122006471ep7.th.jpg (http://img159.imageshack.us/my.php?image=25122006471ep7.jpg)

thinks guy_in_dubai for pic's ,see these tower u/c in lift i seen it in renders it was like ~100m as i remebre but i dont know where!

thanks for the upadate guy_in_dubai... but we still cant see the hotel tower :ohno:

I remember that Mekkan Architect Dr Said Farsi (the ex- major of Jeddah)

wrote his master degree research about the urban developing

of Hajj cities (Makkah,Madina,Jeddah)

one of his conclusions that

the skyline of Makkah should be determined
by the minarets of Almasjid
Alharam

But Abraj Al Bait Project is clearly smashing this conclusion!!!!!!!

This is a catch 22 siuation.

On one side you have people demanding improved accomodations for pilgrims, and once investors step up, with the only econmically viable situations - building highrise towers in order to offset expenditures for astronomically high real estate prices - the same people attack them.

With all respect, I personally do not understand what the big deal is. Its a simple rule of economics. You do not purchase a plot of land for thousands of dollars per square meter and then build a ten floor condo building on it!

I do not mean to be offensive, but like it or not, we are all going to see more of these towers rise around the Grand Mosque in Mecca, especially with rising pilgrim numbers, demand, and real estate prices.

^^ I totally agree. I've made this argument on here before too. I don't understand how people who have been to Makkah can deny the fact that Makkah desperately needs to add services, e.g. accomodation, for the huge number of visitors/pilgrims to the city.

I agree with both of you. How come many people still don't get it?

On one side you have people demanding improved accomodations for pilgrims, and once investors step up, with the only econmically viable situations - building highrise towers in order to offset expenditures for astronomically high real estate prices - the same people attack them.

one should consider the character of the existing city first before building a a massive 21st century castle next to the most important location in Islam. Height restrictions should have been in order for anything built to accomodate pilgrims. At the very least build it away from the mosque.

I dont think this was the only economically viable situation as the government did expropriate the land, by doing so it could essentially do anything with it, not just build skyscrapers.

Mind you Hajj is becoming like a minivacation nowadays especially with these 5 star hotels all around. Im not saying that Hajj should be a painful experience, I am saying it shouldnt be a vacation.

With all respect, I personally do not understand what the big deal is. Its a simple rule of economics. You do not purchase a plot of land for thousands of dollars per square meter and then build a ten floor condo building on it!

the government did the purchasing and we know how inefficient the government is when it comes to spending money. The least they could have done is ensure that a ugly behemoth wouldnt be the only thing you see while in the Haram al sharif.

I do not mean to be offensive, but like it or not, we are all going to see more of these towers rise around the Grand Mosque in Mecca, especially with rising pilgrim numbers, demand, and real estate prices.


this hotel accomodations arent even suited to most pilgrims so this is a mute point. The only thing the Saudi government is achieving is creating a hotel cartel by eliminating many of the cheaper accomodations in the city. In fact that could be one of the primary objectives. I see no reason to be happy about that.

^^ I totally agree. I've made this argument on here before too. I don't understand how people who have been to Makkah can deny the fact that Makkah desperately needs to add services, e.g. accomodation, for the huge number of visitors/pilgrims to the city.

theres nothing stopping said investors from building out of the city and enlarging city limits is there?

that could eliminate the large real estate costs and provide a separate core downtown which would keep the existing heritage of the haram and its sorrounding buildings while also meeting the needs of hajj/umra pilgrims.

Nitzomoe, you very good points.

Now from my point of view, I do not believe that such a tower would have been as succesful anywhere else in the city of Mecca. What I am saying is that from a marketing perspective, many of these apartments sold on the core basis of the spectacular views outside your window.

what makkah also needs is low-cost hotels. with the vast number of pilgrims, not everyone can afford the sky-high prices during ramadan, hajj and holidays

what makkah also needs is low-cost hotels. with the vast number of pilgrims, not everyone can afford the sky-high prices during ramadan, hajj and holidays

couldnt agree more. There seems to be a resurgence in religious interest especially in the youth, we dont want to deter them from making pilgrimage because the hotels are too expensive.

Hi all,

Zamzam Grand Suites is part of Abraj-ul-Bait. This project consist of 7 towers namely, Safa Tower, Marwa Tower, Hajar Tower, Muqam Tower, Sara Tower, Zamzam Tower and Qibla Tower.

So far only Zamzam Tower and Marwa Tower are operational.

Photos from flickr:
13 Jan.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/130/355429933_89091f6939.jpg?v=0

12 Jan.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/151/355417325_c09b13d736.jpg?v=0
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/40/355415943_e61402b45c.jpg?v=0
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/124/355415701_aa8fff18da.jpg?v=0
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/163/355412892_f42c71fa3e.jpg?v=0
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/127/355412756_366a6f8ea3.jpg?v=0
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/149/355411460_d4984ff847.jpg?v=0

Thanks for the update. Very nice towers

Thanks for the update man..

Jan 19 2007

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n118/Saudi-Guy/Abraj%20Al%20Bait/Jan%2019%202006/1.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n118/Saudi-Guy/Abraj%20Al%20Bait/Jan%2019%202006/P1020322.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n118/Saudi-Guy/Abraj%20Al%20Bait/Jan%2019%202006/P1020324.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n118/Saudi-Guy/Abraj%20Al%20Bait/Jan%2019%202006/P1020323.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n118/Saudi-Guy/Abraj%20Al%20Bait/Jan%2019%202006/P1020326.jpg

Jan 19 2007

not sure about these one!
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n118/Saudi-Guy/Abraj%20Al%20Bait/Jan%2019%202006/2.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n118/Saudi-Guy/Abraj%20Al%20Bait/Jan%2019%202006/P1020327.jpg

Jan 19 2007

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n118/Saudi-Guy/Abraj%20Al%20Bait/Jan%2019%202006/3.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n118/Saudi-Guy/Abraj%20Al%20Bait/Jan%2019%202006/P1020345.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n118/Saudi-Guy/Abraj%20Al%20Bait/Jan%2019%202006/P1020344.jpg

Jan 19 2007

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n118/Saudi-Guy/Abraj%20Al%20Bait/Jan%2019%202006/4.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n118/Saudi-Guy/Abraj%20Al%20Bait/Jan%2019%202006/P1020346.jpg

Thanks for the updates! Excellent photos!

Nice buildings

GREAT update Saudi Guy...keep them comin. Thank you:)

thanks everone about your comment:) i hope they excesting in Jeddah Expo on 24 Fab to 1 March 2007.

do any of you guys think this project is an affront to the sanctity of the masjid al haram? do you guys think it is disrespectful to have such a huge tower in the vicinity of the kaabaa with such a commanding presence? what do you guys think? i've had a huge debate with some people about this, like whether this should be built or not, whats your take?

i think my opinions on the subject are already well-known, but i shall reiterate for the last time:

not against the building, will always be against the location.

While they're building this maybe this should put a few casinos nearby.

theres nothing stopping said investors from building out of the city and enlarging city limits is there?

that could eliminate the large real estate costs and provide a separate core downtown which would keep the existing heritage of the haram and its sorrounding buildings while also meeting the needs of hajj/umra pilgrims.


I suppose you feel all the mountains aren't really a constraint on expanding the city.

i think my opinions on the subject are already well-known, but i shall reiterate for the last time:

not against the building, will always be against the location.

While they're building this maybe this should put a few casinos nearby.

you don't need to be sarcastic about this. so you think that building a hotel to accomodate pilgrims is comparable to building a casino?

I suppose you feel all the mountains aren't really a constraint on expanding the city.

considering the city's limits have been expanded greatly I would have to say no.

you don't need to be sarcastic about this. so you think that building a hotel to accomodate pilgrims is comparable to building a casino?

i admit that was a bit too much. But I do have a hard time believing that these rooms are going to be filled.

and from a philosophical point of view it would appear that getting a room here goes against the principle of hajj/umra. Afterall the ihram is supposed to be a symbol of piety,humility and unity. what would you be implying by lavishing yourself in a place like this only to get into the ihram to perform your hajj/umra.

I have a question,
i went to hajj this year and i was very disappointed about the "state" of mecca,why the building are so old,why dont they destroy all that old building and rebuild one with marble,why there are no tree specially around the haram,why they are not good book store,good clean restaurent like in medina,why there is not a policy about pollution,transport,buses....
Its mecca,the holy city for muslim,but it seems abandon
i was really shocked,go to Amman,although they have no money they manage it very well (and its known there is widespread corruption...)
Are the saudi incompetent or they waste their money or?

No disrespect...but it looks like it belongs on the strip in Las Vegas.

I have a question,
i went to hajj this year and i was very disappointed about the "state" of mecca,why the building are so old,why dont they destroy all that old building and rebuild one with marble,why there are no tree specially around the haram,why they are not good book store,good clean restaurent like in medina,why there is not a policy about pollution,transport,buses....
Its mecca,the holy city for muslim,but it seems abandon
i was really shocked,go to Amman,although they have no money they manage it very well (and its known there is widespread corruption...)
Are the saudi incompetent or they waste their money or?

i totally disagree with you...why doesnt amman try having 4 million people at the for one whole day in an area of 2 square km

i think my opinions on the subject are already well-known, but i shall reiterate for the last time:

not against the building, will always be against the location.

While they're building this maybe this should put a few casinos nearby.

how can building totally halal tall buildings that will help out makkah compare to casinos? are the hotels sellin alcohol or anything like that? My opinion is that makkah should have more low cost hotels, but im not against 5 star accomodation or anything like that. Yes, there are a lot of people coming to makkah who cant afford this, but there are also a few people that are. anyway, islam does not forbid building tall buildings and hotels like this that have huge capacity in such a small place are good since it gives more place for smaller hotels to be built.

No disrespect...but it looks like it belongs on the strip in Las Vegas.

Usually I don't get on someone's case for making dumb comments but I couldn't stop myself. What about the buildings make them look like they belong on the Vegas strip? Oh yeah, I forgot all the buildings on the Vegas strip have minarets. In fact, that is what a quintessential Vegas strip building looks like.

Okay..sarcasm aside....please realize that the Vegas strip is very diverse and has buildings that replicate many famous buildings from all over the world. There's the pyramid, the Eiffel tower, etc. What I am saying is, almost anything with some ingenuity, class, and a touch of glamour will fit in well in Vegas. That is why comments like that are irrelavent. I guess you'd stop complaining if they build a bunch of huts...then of course...it wouldn't look like it belongs on the strip.

I have a question,
i went to hajj this year and i was very disappointed about the "state" of mecca,why the building are so old,why dont they destroy all that old building and rebuild one with marble,why there are no tree specially around the haram,why they are not good book store,good clean restaurent like in medina,why there is not a policy about pollution,transport,buses....
Its mecca,the holy city for muslim,but it seems abandon
i was really shocked,go to Amman,although they have no money they manage it very well (and its known there is widespread corruption...)
Are the saudi incompetent or they waste their money or?


Imagine you're one of the people that own one of those old buildings. Your family's lived there for generations, you're old, and your only source of income is the money you make from renting a part of the building to the pilgrims. Now, how would you feel about someone saying that your old building should be destroyed?

Yes, eventually it will happen but most people will not give in without a fight. And yes, the government is incompetent to a certain extent and money is spent on things that it shouldn't be wasted on.

I think you brought up a good point when you mentioned a control on pollution levels. I think the government should do more to limit the level of pollution by slowly restricting access to old, polluting vehicles.

Look around more next time, there are some good restaurants around :)

how can building totally halal tall buildings that will help out makkah compare to casinos? are the hotels sellin alcohol or anything like that? My opinion is that makkah should have more low cost hotels, but im not against 5 star accomodation or anything like that. Yes, there are a lot of people coming to makkah who cant afford this, but there are also a few people that are. anyway, islam does not forbid building tall buildings and hotels like this that have huge capacity in such a small place are good since it gives more place for smaller hotels to be built.

its not about whether alcohol is being sold in this hotel or not, its what the this behemoth does to its sorroundings. everyone has seen the pictures, its sheer size and height make it impossible not to see from the mosque grounds. its simply too overbearing. It has destroyed the serenity of the mosque and because of its size would be very difficult to demolish. this building should have been built far away from the haram al-sharif. mind you zoning and height restrictions exist in other religious centers so its basically a moot point. for example vatican city and amritsar.

I wouldnt bring what Islam requires of engineers and architects into this mostly because I dont think it says very much.

There are a very few people who can afford this. The huge capacity is thus completely and utterly wasted. In fact its more of an eye sore because of the design, it looks like a communist superfortress with lots of expensive materials.

My point was such extravagance is for the sort of material vacations in places like Las Vegas. From a religious standpoint its unbecoming of a pilgrim to use this hotel.

lastly, it doesnt allow more space for low cost hotels because the Saudi government has expropriated most of the land around the haram for other hotels and residences for the people who live there. Essentially the Saudi government is eliminating the low cost hotels that existed, creating a cartel of hotels hat can charge basically whatever they want.

what are the Saudi monarchy implying by building such an exclusive facility in a city that is supposed ot be equal for all muslims?

its not about whether alcohol is being sold in this hotel or not, its what the this behemoth does to its sorroundings. everyone has seen the pictures, its sheer size and height make it impossible not to see from the mosque grounds. its simply too overbearing. It has destroyed the serenity of the mosque and because of its size would be very difficult to demolish. this building should have been built far away from the haram al-sharif. mind you zoning and height restrictions exist in other religious centers so its basically a moot point. for example vatican city and amritsar.

I wouldnt bring what Islam requires of engineers and architects into this mostly because I dont think it says very much.

There are a very few people who can afford this. The huge capacity is thus completely and utterly wasted. In fact its more of an eye sore because of the design, it looks like a communist superfortress with lots of expensive materials.

My point was such extravagance is for the sort of material vacations in places like Las Vegas. From a religious standpoint its unbecoming of a pilgrim to use this hotel.

lastly, it doesnt allow more space for low cost hotels because the Saudi government has expropriated most of the land around the haram for other hotels and residences for the people who live there. Essentially the Saudi government is eliminating the low cost hotels that existed, creating a cartel of hotels hat can charge basically whatever they want.

what are the Saudi monarchy implying by building such an exclusive facility in a city that is supposed ot be equal for all muslims?


The point of building such a massive structure is not to show off to the world that Makkah is a world-class city. Rather, it is to accomade the heavy influx of pilgrims and relegious tourist that travel to the city. It is built on a business point-of-view. This project was built on a former useless mountain that takes up valueable space.

Plus, if you travel to Makkah, the Holy Mosque cannot be seen from far because it is in the middle of a valley. Only when you come near (within 1 kilometer or maybe less at some points) can the true form of the mosque appear).

THe only way to solve the problem of increasing density and demand for space in a city is by building such massive structure. The architecture of the Holy Mosque is not Holy; rather the sacredness of the whole place and the Eman (or relegious pride and feeling) that grabs Muslims.

Makkah is a city that is built on 1000s of years of ruins and rebuilding. Therefore, it is natural at our time and age to make this city for the better.

The point of building such a massive structure is not to show off to the world that Makkah is a world-class city. Rather, it is to accomade the heavy influx of pilgrims and relegious tourist that travel to the city. It is built on a business point-of-view. This project was built on a former useless mountain that takes up valueable space.

your missing the point of my argument. this building does not accomodate the increasing volume of pilgrims as most pilgrims dont go to 5+ star hotel establishments. This project along with the "so-called" modernization program undertaken by the Saudi government is going to create a cartel of expensive hotels forcing people to go to these establishments for lack of cheaper rooms.

Plus, if you travel to Makkah, the Holy Mosque cannot be seen from far because it is in the middle of a valley. Only when you come near (within 1 kilometer or maybe less at some points) can the true form of the mosque appear).

again my criticism is not about what it looks like from miles away but what it does to the serenity of the haram al sharif inside viewing out. The building is imposing, theres no way around it. a mountain(i think your exagerating i dont recall there being a mountain there, perhaps a 50 m cliffside?) would still have a better natural effect than this atrocity.

The only way to solve the problem of increasing density and demand for space in a city is by building such massive structure.

not true. the area around Makkah city is also being developed, in fact the cities borders have been extended since Ottoman times considerably and continues to be expanded. and density does not imply 6 400m + skyscrapers it could just as easily be 24 100m + buildings.

whats the necessity to put these buildings adjacent to the mosque? pilgrims can walk too far? if it had been further away, I would have no problem with this building, though personally am no longer a fan of the design. 6 separate buildings without a connecting podium would have been better, but thats just personal opinion.

curators of other religious/historic sites understand that building massive skyscrapers damages the serenity of a location. Imagine Versailles had a 500m skyscraper adjoined to its grounds. Or if Berlesconi decided to build a 400m skyscraper next to the vatican. the results would be disastrous.

Perhaps this is a moot point, but did the architects take into account possible shadow on the haram as a result of this building?

The architecture of the Holy Mosque is not Holy; rather the sacredness of the whole place and the Eman (or relegious pride and feeling) that grabs Muslims.

and no one said it was. the haram al-sharif existed before the Saud family decided to expand the mosque and will exist even after we're dead. The question I pose is whether building a structure like Abraj al-Bait benefits the immediate sorroundings of the site or whether it damages the sorroundings. The sheer size and poor architecutral elements for me damage the sorroundings.

Makkah is a city that is built on 1000s of years of ruins and rebuilding. Therefore, it is natural at our time and age to make this city for the better.

for me this project only makes Makkah worse.

IMO makkah even with all these project it's looks randomly.

IMO makkah even with all these project it's looks randomly.

What do you mean by randomly?

I would like to inform all of you about the new height of this project.

The Height of the Hotel (Makkah Royal Tower) has been increased to be:

577 M

:banana:, hopefully you're right :)

100% right inshaallah since I have seen a copy of the new APPROVED drawings.

i dont think so

it is going to be 485 m

dream1981 what is your sours?

Mustafa, on thursday maximum, I'll contact my friend who is working there to send a soft copy of the drawing then I'll load a picture of it inshaallah.

nothing to be proud of...

so its named Makkah Royal Tower!!!

That's great news!! If this is true, a minara-shape tower will be one of the tallest in the world (more so than the previous design) and it will spread the cost of the development over a greater area. My hope (if this increase allows for more hotel rooms) is that the hotel rooms are slightly less expensive because they are able to have more rooms now. If that happens, many more pilgrims will be able to afford the hotel. Maybe that won't happen but we can always hope. :)

ok drem we will be waiting you

ok drem we will be waiting you

Here is what I promised but please note that Picture resolution is not that good since my friend printed it then I just scanned on my poor scanner lol.

http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/7496/hotel2ph8.jpg
Now I believe that title of the post should be changed to 577M not 485M anymore or we can create new thread to be Abraj Al-Bait 577M (PART 2).

For members who like this project and its location, Congrats :banana:

For members who hate the project for its location and disagree with building any skyscraper infront of the holy mosque, You can hate it more now lol :lol:

DreaM1981,

Thanks for the news and the drawing. I noticed "Prince Abd Allah Lunar Center" on top of the clock. I think this drawing is probably old since Abd Allah has been a King for more than a year now.

Yes as far I know, this drawing has been designed long time ago but got approved recently, maybe they forgot to change it to be King Abdullah.

i dont think it's going to be 577

577 m is longer than the cn tower in canada ...

^ it could very well be 577! Remember, the construction of the main tower has only recently begun - perhaps the reason for the delay had something to do with the approval of this design.

how long it is going to take for the main hotel tower ??

why saudies dont have any respect for masjid-e-al haram:bash: :bash:
why the hell they have to build it so near to mosque, its all so sad.:ohno:
what if they have to expand the mosque in future.

why saudies dont have any respect for masjid-e-al haram:bash: :bash:
why the hell they have to build it so near to mosque, its all so sad.:ohno:
what if they have to expand the mosque in future.

The Saudi's dont respect the Masjid Al-Haram???? To put it fairly, If anything, the Masjid Al-Haram never witnessed such growth under any other leadership other than the AL-Saud--not that I support them or anything. Its the truth. If it wasnt from them, the mosque would've never witnessed such growth and ease of funtion.

why saudies dont have any respect for masjid-e-al haram:bash: :bash:
why the hell they have to build it so near to mosque, its all so sad.:ohno:
what if they have to expand the mosque in future.


Before the evil Saudis,
http://z.about.com/d/atheism/1/0/F/f/Kaaba1917.jpg

After the evil Saudis,
http://i18.tinypic.com/2u4himg.jpg



Before the evil Saudis,
http://www.unexplainedstuff.com/images/geuu_02_img0461.jpg

After the evil Saudis,
http://www.sacred-destinations.com/saudi-arabia/mecca-haram-pictures/slides/mosque-night2-c-sacredsites.jpg


Before the evil Saudis,
http://i19.tinypic.com/3yzdevn.jpg

After the evil Saudis,
http://www.greatestcities.com/7873pic/724/CP12724.jpg/Grand_Mosque_in_Mecca.jpg




those evil Saudis :bash: