MAKKAH: Over SR100 billion over 10 years has been earmarked for development of Makkah into a modern city, Dr. Osama Al-Bar, Mayor of Makkah, told Saudi Gazette. Al-Bar is also a member of the Municipal Corporation, the Supreme Central Haj Committee and Chief Executive of the Makkah Beautification and Development Authority. He said one project, estimated at SR1 billion will see all the government offices move to Bawwaba Gate on the Makkah Highway. For this project, three million square meters of land has been reserved. The Ministry of Finance will soon release the funds, he added. He said he played a part, as head of the Haj Research Institute, in having the Jamarat Bridge built so that pilgrims could safely carry out their pelting rituals. Al-Bar also played a part in the expansion of the Grand Mosque, including the Sai' area where pilgrims move between the hillocks of Safa and Marwa for either Haj or Umrah. He said 44,000 persons can move between the two hillocks now. He said that within the next three years the Kingdom will be able to accommodate 10 million pilgrims during Haj.
