95% of Mas’a expansion at the Holy Mosque completed

Makkah, July 19, SPA -- About 95 percent of the Mas’a tier expansions
at the Holy Mosque in Makkah has been completed, with the focus now
shifting to completing the Mas’a dome before the start of the holy
month of Ramadan.

The expansion will provide a capacity exceeding 300,000 people per
hour on an area of 72,000 sq. meters, according to a report of Arabic
Newspaper Okaz, which is published today by Saudi Gazette.

The total width of the Mas’a will reach 40 meters over three tiers
connected with the ground floor, the first floor and the roof by
escalators and lifts.

The expansion also includes passageways linked to the eastern
courtyard for the bearing of the dead through the Mas’a for funeral
prayers, as well as facilities for persons with special needs with
modified passageways and four new escalators.

The project has also included the demolition of a minaret of the
Grand Mosque and the construction of a new minaret 95 meters in
height.

Other improvements at the northern courtyard of the Holy Mosque are
also close to completion, including sanitary facilities to the
northwest and 100 stalls for traders selling Miswak close to Jabl
Al-Ka’ba. The courtyards are expected to be ready for worshippers in
30 days.

Saad Al-Qureshi, Chairman of the Hajj and Umrah Committee at the
Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry said the expansion of the
Mas’a would provide greater comfort and peace of mind for Umrah
performers and pilgrims and streamline flow during peak hours in
Ramadan and Hajj.

--SPA