A total of 12,000 pilgrims can now be housed in the foothills of Mina because of the addition of two extra towers. The two towers are part of a pilot project this year and will be reviewed by a committee before a final decision it taken to keep them in place permanently for Haj. Saad Al-Qurashi, Chairman of the Haj and Umrah Committee at the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), said these towers accommodate domestic pilgrims, residents and pilgrims from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries at a cost of more than SR25 million. The use of these towers during the Haj season will be evaluated and the results registered with the committee, which consists of the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, Ministry of Haj and Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' Institute for Haj Research. He added that the committee will make their evaluation from different perspectives. This will enable the authorities to decide whether to continue the project or to replace it with other projects. Al-Qurashi said the health crises and epidemics have raised the risk for investment in Makkah.
