King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia has launched a project to expand the Prophet’s Mosque (Al Masjid Al Nabawi) in Medina to accommodate more than 1.6 million worshippers.
Finance Minister Ibrahim Al Assaf said that the project formed a part of the King’s service to Islam and Muslims.
“The project will provide a great service to the pilgrims and visitors, who will be able to pray comfortably in the Mosque and the surrounding plaza,” he said.
The project would be implemented in three phases.
“The first phase will accommodate more than 800,000 worshippers, while the second and third will cater to an equal number of worshippers bringing the total capacity to 1.6 million,” Mr Al Assaf said.
Ongoing projects
Expansion of the Al Masjid Al Nabawi would also account for completion of other projects that King Abdullah had ordered for the welfare and comfort of the pilgrims and visitors, he said.
Among the ongoing projects are expansion of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, expansion of the Massa (pathway between Safa and Marwa), increasing the area of the Jamarat bridge, the Mecca Development Plan, the Haramain Express Train, the Mecca Gate and the new King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah.
Earlier expansion
The Prophet’s Mosque has been expanded twice earlier, the first of which was in 1951, during the time of King Abdul Aziz Al Saud, Founder of the Kingdom. This project saw the addition of four minarets and 18 ordinary staircases.
King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz ordered the second expansion project in 1984.
This project accounted for six new minarets and six electric staircases.
Million worshippers
The ground floor of the Mosque has an area of 98,500 square metres accommodating 167,000 worshippers; the roof covers 67,000 square metres for 90,000 worshippers, while the surrounding plaza has a total area of 235,000 square metres accommodating 450,000 worshippers.
The Mosque and its plaza occupy 400,500 square metres accommodating 707,000 worshippers but in recent years, almost one million worshippers are present at the Mosque during peak seasons.
Works begin
According to reports, compensation payment (at about $107,000 per square metre) to the owners of the expropriated properties for the project is on schedule.
According to preliminary estimates, about $8 billion will be paid to the properties covering 12.5 hectare, including 100 buildings.
The old Maternity Hospital, Ashqi Building, Awqaf 2 Building and Al Muhammadiah Waqf, King Abdul Aziz Library building and a few hotels and markets are among the buildings that would be removed.
Pedestrian movement
The expansion work will enable smooth pedestrian movement.
It will also consider the architectural design of nearby buildings and improve public squares close to the Mosque and utilities in the area.
The area will also be developed as the heart of the city according to the plan.
Sheikh Yusuf Salamah, a member of the founding committee of the Muslim World League said that King Abdullah seeks to increase the ease and comfort of Haj and Umra pilgrims.
Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, President of the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques and Imam of the Grand Mosque in Mecca described the new expansion project as ‘unprecedented and said that the area of the Mosque and surrounding courtyards would cover occupy more than 1.1 million square metres of land.
