Tariffs on imports only way to get fairness, says Trump    24 Democratic states and cities sue over Trump's bid to end birthright citizenship    As fighting in Gaza stops, Israel launches major military campaign in West Bank Israeli forces kill 10 Palestinians in Jenin    Saudi Arabia introduces national policy to eliminate forced labor    Al Hilal solidifies Saudi Pro League lead with a 4-1 victory over Al Wahda    Al Nassr secures hard-fought 3-1 victory over Al Khaleej in Saudi Pro League    Al Hilal signs young Brazilian talent Kaio César from Vitória Guimarães    Roberto Firmino's volley secures Al Ahli's 2-1 win over Al Ettifaq    Saudi foreign minister expresses cautious optimism about Syria Prince Faisal will visit Lebanon soon    Saudi Arabia is keen on continue working with US Princess Reema attends inauguration of President Trump    Arcapita & Parkway invest in a portfolio of high-growth Artificial Intelligence companies    Trump makes 'two genders' and anti-DEI policy official    "Dar wa Emaar" generates more than SR900 million in sales of "Tala al Khuzam" units within 2 months Unique housing and investment opportunity in north Riyadh    Saudi Aramco chief expects oil demand to rise by 1.3 million bpd this year    Saudi Minister of Economy and Planning meets with Schneider Electric chairman in Davos    Saudi Arabia takes part in Ministerial Meeting in New York in support of Yemeni government    Princess Hessa bint Salman attends launch of fashion design exhibition in Riyadh Princess Noura Al-Faisal: Art of Heritage showcases Saudi identity with a modern vision    Weight-loss drugs may boost health in many ways    Interior ministry introduces drone to enhance road security    Sir Anthony Hopkins mesmerizes Riyadh with his first live musical performance 'Life Is A Dream'    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Expansion to triple ‘mataf' capacity
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 16 - 11 - 2012


Ali Bin Ghursan
Okaz/Saudi Gazette

MAKKAH — Construction work on the expansion of the mataf (the area where pilgrims circle around the Holy Ka'aba as part of the tawaf ritual) in the Grand Mosque started Thursday.
The engineers overseeing the project gave the go-ahead to set up the two largest tower cranes ever built in the 21st century in the eastern and western parts of the mosque.
The cranes will be used for the construction work.
The contractor requested the Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques to evacuate a number of offices in the Grand Mosque including the preachers' offices and those housing security forces.
The expansion ordered by King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, aims to end overcrowding in the mataf.
Muhammad Abdullah Idris, Deputy President of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Haj Research Institute in Makkah, suggested the expansion in a study he conducted.
The expansion has been designed in a way to preserve the Islamic identity and character of the Grand Mosque and the mataf in particular.
The project will separate the mataf from the prayer areas and link it to various floors, significantly easing the flow of worshippers as they enter and leave the tawaf area.
The study also suggests the tawaf and the masa'a (where pilgrims perform the ritual run between Safa and Marwah) areas be provided with cable car services linking the Grand Mosque with three areas of the holy city to reduce congestion during the peak Haj and Umrah seasons.
The study recommends cable cars mainly for elderly pilgrims and those with special needs.
The expansion project will result in the mataf's capacity being increased to accommodate 130,000 tawaf performers per hour across all floors instead of the current capacity of 52,000.
The project includes the first floor being allocated for physically handicapped worshippers and will be connected to elevators and escalators.
This floor will also be connected to the masa'a.


Clic here to read the story from its source.