The Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, announced the start of the implementation of a large urban development project in Mecca called “King Salman Gate”, reported the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
The new project will cover an area of about 12 million square meters, right next to the Great Mosque of Mecca (Al-Masjid al-Haram).
The aim of the project is to improve the urban infrastructure, facilitate access to the holy place and improve the quality of services for residents, pilgrims and visitors.
It is planned that the complex will contain residential, catering, commercial and cultural zones, which will offer a variety of experiences to all visitors.
The areas for prayer – both indoors and outdoors – will be sufficient to accommodate around 900,000 believers.
Preservation of heritage and creation of new jobs
In addition to modern facilities, the project also envisages the preservation and revitalization of 19,000 square meters of historical sites, which aims to preserve the cultural and religious heritage of Mecca.
The “King Salman Gate” will have a significant impact on the local economy, with more than 300,000 jobs expected to be created by 2036, in line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 economic diversification goals.
The development of the project is led by the company RUA AlHaram AlMakki, which is owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), and whose chairman is Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The mission of the RUA company is to improve the area around the Great Mosque and position Mecca as a global model of urban and real estate development.
HRH Crown Prince announces the launch of #King_Salman_Gatea transformative multi-use development in the Holy City of Makkah. pic.twitter.com/JLxCi8J50W
— Public Investment Fund (@PIF_en) October 15, 2025
Increased number of pilgrims and visitors
Mecca continues to record strong growth in the number of pilgrims and visitors. During the Islamic month of Rabi’ al-Ahir (between September and October), the Higher Council for the Care of the Two Holy Mosques reported that more than 13 million people visited the holy places.
Of these, more than 4.1 million visited the Grand Mosque, while nearly 2.9 million performed Umrah.
The growth in the number of visitors further confirms the need for infrastructure projects such as the “King Salman Gate”, which aim to improve the conditions of stay and pilgrimage.
A vision of the future
The launch of the “King Salman Gate” project represents another important step in Saudi efforts to make Mecca a modern world-class city, while preserving its spiritual and historical importance.
The project aims to support the growing number of visitors, create new jobs and make Mecca a symbol of traditional values and modern development.
