Khalid Al-Humaidi Okaz/Saudi Gazette MAKKAH — The Grand Mosque will have four floors of mataaf (the area where Haj and Umrah pilgrims circle the Kaaba during the tawaf ritual) by early September. The construction of the third floor has been completed, said Sultan Al-Qurashi, projects manager at the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques. It has an area of 76,000 sq. meters, he said, adding that construction is going on for the ceiling. “We have increased the capacity of the mataaf in the Grand Mosque. It was the third phase of the King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Expansion Project. Pilgrims this Haj season will have four floors to circumambulate the Kaaba,” said Al-Qurashi. He said the Grand Mosque has the capacity to accommodate around 114,000 pilgrims an hour. “All construction work in the Grand Mosque will stop on Sept. 9 to allow pilgrims to enter the Grand Mosque and perform the rituals comfortably. Work will resume on Oct. 14 to construct the three main gates,” said Al-Qurashi. “We also have ramps for pilgrims with disabilities to facilitate the movement of wheelchairs,” he said.
