The Grand Mosque in Makkah will have fourth floor or mataf, or circumambulation area around the Kaaba by September for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims.
Sultan al Qurashi, projects manager at the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques said the construction of the third floor has been done with an area of 76, 000 square metres and the 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 Hajj season will have four floors to circumambulate the Kaaba,” told Al Arabiya.
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 added.