Grand Mosque’s Minarets: Architectural Masterpieces Inspired by Islamic Heritage

Makkah, March 24, 2025, SPA -- Minarets serve as landmarks and symbols of Islamic architecture, playing a significant role in the urban environments of Muslim communities. Their designs vary from short, thick towers to tall, slender structures. The minarets of the Grand Mosque hold special significance as they stand beside the holy Kaaba in Makkah, where Islam emerged. They are distinguished by their architectural style inspired by Islamic heritage and their role in announcing prayer times through loudspeakers.
According to the General Authority for the Care of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque, the Grand Mosque features 13 minarets that share a similar design but vary in height, forming architectural masterpieces throughout history. These include two minarets at the Umrah Gate, each 137 meters tall; two at the King Abdulaziz Gate, also 137 meters tall; two at the King Fahd Gate, each 98 meters tall; one minaret at Al-Safa Gate, standing at 98 meters; two at Al-Fath Gate, each 137 meters tall; and four minarets in the Third Saudi Expansion, each reaching 135 meters.
Each minaret of the Grand Mosque is divided into five sections: the base, the first balcony, the minaret shaft, the second balcony, and the cover.
Over the centuries, the minarets have been adorned with crescent finials crafted in various styles throughout Islamic history, evolving into the elegant designs seen today.
-- SPA