Makkah News and Updates

Project of the Century

Islam’s holiest mosque
to accommodate 2 million faithful
after latest expansion

Friday, 09 January 2015

Thousands of workers are in a race against time to complete the King Abdullah Project for Expansion of the Grand Mosque in Makkah before the stipulated deadline. Islam’s holiest mosque will have a capacity to accommodate as many as 2 million faithful with the completion of the largest-ever expansion in its history.

Featuring environmentally-friendly designs and high safety standards, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah dedicated the expansion to the Islamic world.

Tipped as the project of the century, the SR100 billion expansion project consists of three parts: construction of a new building; expansion and development of courtyards around the mosque, including walkways, tunnels and toilets; and development of service facilities for air-conditioning, electricity and drinking water.

The entire roof of the Grand Mosque and mataf (circumambulation area around the Holy Kaaba) will have air-conditioned sunshades.

The expansion of courtyards covers mainly the northern courtyard, starting from Marwa Gate and ending with the Harat Al-Bab area and Jabal Al-Hind in Shamiya and Talaat Al-Hafayer from the side of King Fahd Gate.

The third and final phase of the mataf expansion is in full swing. The expansion, being implemented in three phases over a period of three years, will triple the capacity of the mataf from the present 48,000 to 150,000 pilgrims an hour when it is completed by the end of 2015. The first two phases of the mataf expansion were completed according to schedule.

The expanded facility can now accommodate 70 percent more pilgrims.

The demolition of the old structure of the Grand Mosque between Mount Safa and the central area facing the King Fahd expansion, including the King Abdulaziz Gate with two minarets over it and three floors, started in November 2014 immediately after Haj.

With the completion of this phase, the total area of the project will increase to 81,567 square meters.

Pilgrims benefited from the first phase of expansion in the area between Safa and Fatah Gate as well as the first phase of the basement, ground, first and second floors last Haj.

The first phase also included the sound, lighting and air-conditioning systems, as well as the temporary mataf for pilgrims with special needs. About 7,000 pilgrims are benefitting every hour from the two levels of the temporary circular bridge built for the elderly and disabled pilgrims. Top standards of safety and quality are being maintained while implementing the project.

The mataf on the second and third floors will be connected with cable cars to carry elderly and disabled pilgrims and there will be direct access to these floors from outside the mosque.

The third phase of the expansion project will include 22 escalators, 12 lifts for the use of elderly and disabled pilgrims and Zamzam water drinking areas. The top floor of the mataf will have an automated walkway revolving around the Holy Kaaba. The mataf structure will be tremor proof.

The Abbasid-Ottoman era portico of the Grand Mosque, demolished for the mataf expansion, will be refurbished, restored and relocated once the expansion project is completed. The Turkish Gursoy Group, a leading international firm specialized in renovation of buildings, is currently finishing the difficult and time-consuming task of refurbishing all pieces and parts of the portico.

The new structure will have gates much wider than the existing ones to facilitate the smooth flow of pilgrims and crowd management on a larger scale, especially during the peak Haj and Umrah seasons, when the gates in the southern direction of the mosque are crowded.

The expansion of the Grand Mosque covers all three directions except the masaa (the running area between Safa and Marwa). The infrastructure for central air conditioning of the King Abdulaziz Endowment Project will be used for cooling the Grand Mosque as well once the work of the new expansion is completed and the existing building that houses the mosque’s air conditioning system will be demolished.

The total area of the Grand Mosque at present is 356,000 sq. meters with a capacity for 770,000 worshippers, but when the expansion is completed the area will increase to 456,000 sq. meters with a capacity to accommodate 1.2 million worshippers. Courtyards of the mosque’s new expansion can hold an additional 250,000 worshipers.

The Ministry of Finance is supervising the project, which is being implemented by Saudi Binladin Group.

Pilgrims benefited from the expanded structure during the 2014 pilgrimage season.

These included the entire ground and first floors of the annex building, and the first and second mezzanine floors. A total area of 167,784 square meters in the annex and 118,790 square meters of courtyards around the structure were opened for pilgrims. The annex’s main gate is named after King Abdullah. It has two new minarets, bringing the total number of minarets to 11.

More than 10,000 toilets and a large number ablution areas and Zamzam taps have been built in the courtyards of the mosque.

More areas of the mosque have been air-conditioned and these include the first floor of the first Saudi expansion from Safa staircase to the middle of King Fahd expansion.

With the expansion of the courtyards, a total area of 380 square meters will be added in the northern side of the mosque.

A total area of 300,000 square meters has been devoted to pedestrian tunnels and utility services.

The ongoing expansion work also covers a new network of roads for the transportation of pilgrims and these roads will be separated from pedestrian passages. The project also includes helipads for the evacuation of sick pilgrims and worshippers, especially during peak Haj and Umrah seasons, including Ramadan. The roof of the new expansion will be used as a helipad.

A 1,200-meter tunnel will be constructed from the end of the expansion passing through Jabal Al-Hind while another tunnel with a length of 1,100 meters will be built under Jabal Madafie. An emergency 700-meter tunnel crossing the other two tunnels will be constructed, starting from Jabal Al-Kaaba. High tech devices will be used for the operation, maintenance and cleaning of the expanded facility. The pedestrian passages will have escalators and all safety and security precautions in place. This will facilitate easy movement of pilgrims in the central area around the Grand Mosque, especially the northern and western courtyards, away from traffic congestion.

The project also includes canopies, high tech garbage disposal and security monitoring systems. The project also includes 15,000 new toilets with highly advanced facilities to maintain hygiene, environment protection and prudent use of energy.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20150109229921

8 January 2015

The Return of Sinan's Domes

عودة قباب سنان

8 January 2015

عمر المضواحي، عبدالرحمن حذيفة - مكة المكرمة

بدأت أطلال الرواق التاريخي المعروف بـ"العثماني" في الحرم المكي الشريف، تتنامى حجارتها ورخامها وهياكل قببها مجددا فوق سطح الرواق في الجهات الغربية والشمالية والجنوبية التي تم الانتهاء من تهيئتها في المرحلتين السابقتين للمشروع الذي بدأ في نوفمبر 2012.

Google translation: The ruins of the historic Porticos known as the "Ottoman" began in the Haram al-Sharif, growing stones and Rkhamha structures Qubbha back above the surface of the corridor in the western, northern and southern sides, which was completed configured in the previous two phases of the project, which began in November 2012.

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Ottoman Porticos back to Haram after 60 days removed

الرواق العثماني يعود إلى الحرم بعد 60 يوما من إزالته

بعد مضي نحو شهرين على إزالة آخر بقايا الرواق العثماني في الحرم المكي الشريف، بدأت أعمدته تتنامى في جهة أخرى من الجهات التي تمت فيها مراحل توسعة المطاف، وهي السبب الرئيس في إزالته، ما أثار جدلا واسعا في أواخر عام 2012 باعتباره عند كثير من المهتمين بالآثار المكية تعديا على الموروث الثقافي للحرم، قبل أن تؤكد رئاسة الحرمين حينها أن الرواق العثماني سيعود إلى ما كان عليه بعد توسعة المطاف، ورفع الطاقة الاستيعابية إلى 105 آلاف طائف في الساعة.

وشهدت توسعة المطاف في مرحلتها الثالثة والأخيرة إزالة آخر بقايا الرواق العثماني بعد أن دارت الدائرة على المطاف لتكون هذه المرحلة هي الأخيرة في التوسعة التي ينتظرها زوار الحرم من العمار والحجاج، والمقرر انتهاؤها في نهاية العام الحالي 1436.

وفي الوقت الذي اختفت فيه معالم القباب البيضاء للرواق العثماني بدأت تظهر قباب أخرى مستندة إلى أعمدة مثبتة في صحن المطاف، لتعلن عن بدء مرحلة جديدة تتمثل في عودة الرواق العثماني الذي بات معلما من معالم الحرم المكي الشريف، وتختلف القباب الحديثة عن القديمة في لونها الخارجي، حيث اتسمت القديمة بلونها الأبيض، بينما تظهر الجديدة بلون لامع يقارب المذهب والبني الملمع، بالإضافة إلى مساواة بعضها ببعض، وتناسق ألوانها وزخارفها الخارجية والداخلية، الأمر الذي دفع بكثير من أهالي مكة إلى تداول الخبر باعتباره إنجازا مهما في الحفاظ على الهوية التي اعتادها المكيون في هذا العصر للمسجد الحرام.

وأوضح وكيل إدارة المشاريع برئاسة الحرمين المهندس محمد الوقداني لـ»مكة» أن الرواق العثماني يعود شيئا فشيئا إلى مباني الحرم المكي الشريف، وأن الرئاسة تعمل على تنظيم إعادته بما يحفظ أدواته ولا يؤثر على المشاريع الأخرى في الحرم، مبينا أن الفترات القادمة ستشهد عودة الرواق العثماني في أنحاء من الحرم، وأن الأعمدة المخصصة للرواق العثماني تنتشر حول توسعة المطاف، وتم حمايتها بعوازل تحول بينها وبين كل ما يمكن أن يؤثر عليها، لضمان جاهزية استخدامها في الوقت المناسب.

وأكد أنه روعي وضعها في القواعد الأساسية لبناء أرضية توسعة المطاف في مرحلتيها الأولى والثانية، كما سيجري العمل في المرحلة الثالثة على نفس النهج، منوها إلى أن الرواق العثماني توليه رئاسة الحرمين اهتماما بصيانته وتطويره بالتعاون مع جهات متخصصة في البناء العثماني وتاريخه.

Google translation: After about two months to remove the last remnants of the Ottoman portico in the Haram al-Sharif, columns began to grow in the other hand, of those in which the phases of the expansion of the Mataf, which is the main reason to remove, what provoked controversy in late 2012 as when many of those interested in the effects Meccan infringe on the cultural heritage of the campus, before you confirm the Presidency of the Two Holy then that hallway Ottoman will return to what it was after the Mataf expansion, and raise the capacity to 105 thousand per hour visitation.

And witnessed the expansion of the Mataf in the third and final phase of removing the last vestiges of the Ottoman hallway after that took place on the circuit up to be this is the last stage in the expansion, which awaits visitors to the campus of Amar and pilgrims, and scheduled to expire at the end of the year 1436.

At a time when the white domes landmarks disappeared for Ottoman Porticos began other domes show based on the columns installed in the Mataf, to announce the start of a new phase is to return the Ottoman portico, which has become a landmark of the Haram al-Sharif landmarks, and different modern domes old in outer color, where the ancient characterized by white everlasting, while the new show glossy nearly doctrine and brown Polisher, in addition to equal each other, and the consistency of colors and external and internal decoration, which prompted much of the people of Mecca to trading the news as an important achievement in preserving the identity accustomed Meccans in this age of the Grand Mosque.

Under the project management, headed by Holy Mohamed Wagdany's »Mecca» explained that the gallery Ottoman back slowly into the premises of the Haram al-Sharif, and the president is working to organize it back in order to preserve its tools and does not affect other projects on campus, noting that the coming period will witness the return of the Ottoman portico in parts of the Haram, and that the gallery dedicated to the Ottoman columns spread around the expansion of the Mataf, and was protected Bawazel prevent them from everything that can affect them, to ensure the readiness to use in a timely manner.

He stressed that he took into account and put it in the core of the building floor Mataf expansion in the first and second Mrahltha rules, as in the third phase will be working on the same approach, noting that the hallway Ottoman assuming the presidency of the Two Holy attention maintained by and developed in collaboration with specialized companies in the Ottoman building and its history.

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The new domes .. Simulation of history
crystallized in Muzdalifah

القباب الجديدة.. محاكاة للتاريخ تبلورت في معمل مزدلفة

أخذت القباب الجديدة للحرم المكي الشريف موقعها في جهاته الغربية والشمالية والجنوبية، بعد سلسلة من التجارب والدراسات وعمل نماذج لمحاكاتها بالقديمة في معمل أنشئ في مزدلفة خاص بترميم قطع الرواق أنشأته شركة بن لادن، المقاول المنفذ لأعمال توسعة وعمارة خادم الحرمين الشريفين الملك عبدالله بن عبدالعزيز للمسجد الحرام.

مكان تاريخي

وكان مقاول التنفيذ أسند أعمال الترميم إلى مجموعة Gursoy التركية وهي شركة متخصصة في مجال ترميم المواقع التاريخية حول العالم.

وبالفعل بدأت الشركة التركية مهمتها وعالجت ورممت نحو 2754 قطعة تاريخية من الرواق تشمل أعمدة وقبابا وتيجانا ولوحات منقوشة وغيرها، لإعادة تركيبها بحسب الجدول الزمني لكل مرحلة من المراحل الثلاث لمشروع التوسعة والمقرر تنفيذه كاملا خلال 3 سنوات هجرية تنتهي قبيل موسم حج هذا العام 1436.

وأوضح عضو هيئة كبار العلماء الدكتور عبدالوهاب أبوسليمان في تصريح خاص لـ»مكة» أن المحافظة على الرواق التاريخي في المسجد الحرام وإسناد أعماله إلى شركة متخصصة في أعمال الترميم بناء على توجيهات وحرص وتأكيد من الملك عبدالله بن عبدالعزيز بأن يتم الحفاظ على هذا المكان التاريخي، وأضاف: أعتقد أن الرواق سيعود كما كان تنفيذا لهذه الإرادة الملكية.

وكان أبوسليمان زار معمل ترميم الرواق في جمادى الآخرة العام الماضي برفقة أمين العاصمة المقدسة الدكتور أسامة البار والأستاذ الزائر بمركز التحليلات الجغرافية بجامعة هارفارد الأمريكية الدكتور معراج مرزا للاطلاع على أعمال ترميم أجزاء الرواق وخطوات العمل الجارية.

وكان آخر بناء للقباب جرى في التوسعتين السعوديتين الأولى والثانية لعمارة الحرم المكي الشريف، بينما التاريخية منها تعود إلى آخر بناء للرواق العثماني في عهد السلطان سليم الثاني وابنه مراد وتحت إشرافه بين عامي 980 ـ 984هـ.
وكان خبراء الشركتين السعودية والتركية فوجئوا بعد أن قاموا بعمل الفحوصات الفنية لآلية بناء القباب التاريخية في الرواق العثماني قبل فكها، باكتشاف سر من أسرار العمارة الإسلامية ظل غير معروف طوال 450 عاما في بناء هذه القباب الفريدة.

فنون الهندسة

وبحسب الدكتور معراج مرزا الذي زود «مكة» بصور خاصة، فإن خبراء مجموعة Gursoy التركية أبلغوه خلال زيارته للمعمل أنهم توقفوا طويلا أمام طريقة بناء القباب في الحرم المكي.
وأكدوا له أنهم لم يشاهدوا قط مثل هذه الطريقة فيما سبق، وأن تصميمها يعد سابقة لفنون الهندسة والعمارة في العصر الحديث، على الرغم من أن عمارة القباب على المباني التاريخية يسبق بكثير تاريخ بناء قباب الرواق العثماني في الحرم المكي الشريف.

وأشار إلى أن الشركة التركية توصلت بعد الدراسات الهندسية إلى أن المعماري الذي قام بتنفيذ هذه القباب انتهج أسلوبا خاصا وبعبقرية لافتة، تمييزا لموقعها الشريف في بيت الله العتيق.

وزاد: إن رئيس الشركة أبلغهم باعتقاده أن أبا العمارة التركية المعماري العظيم «سنان باشا» (895هـ - 996هـ / 1490م ــ 1588م) هو من وقف وراء ابتكار هذه الآلية الجديدة وغير المسبوقة في بناء القباب التي كانت عنوانا بارزا في عبقريته المعمارية وخاصة في هندسة الفضاءات المفتوحة داخل البناء، عندما قام بتصميم وتنفيذ عمارة الحرم المكي، وترميم القباب فيه عام 945هـ / 1539م باستخدام طريقة العقد الركني ذي الفصوص الظاهرة على شكل محارة، في عهد السلطان سليمان القانوني (926هـ - 973هـ / 1520-1566م) الذي عرف عصره بالعصر الذهبي للدولة العثمانية.

نقوش الحجاز

وبالعودة إلى كتاب الدكتور محمد بن فهد الفعر «الكتابات والنقوش في الحجاز في العصر المملوكي والعثماني من القرن الثامن الهجري حتى القرن الثاني عشر الهجري» ذكر المؤلف أن شيخ المهندسين في مصر محمد جاوش المعمار هو المهندس الذي تمت عمارة المسجد الحرام في عهد السلطان سليم الثاني وابنه السلطان مراد تحت إشرافه خلال أربع سنوات فقط بين عامي 980 ـ 984هـ.

وأكد المؤلف في كتابه القيم (ص 401): «يمكن القول إن هذا المهندس أو المعمار هو أول من أدخل نظام القباب في عمارة المسجد الحرام بأمر من السلطان سليم الثاني».

وأضاف «ولما أرادوا تسقيف المسجد بالقباب وجدوا أن ذلك غير ممكن لأن أساطين الرخام التي ترجع إلى عمارة الخليفة المهدي العباسي (158 ـ 169هـ) في عمارتيه الكبيرتين للمسجد الحرام سنتي (160 ـ 169هـ) لا تستطيع تحمل القباب لضعفها، لأن القبة يجب أن تقوم على أربع دعائم قوية من جوانبها الأربعة، حتى تستطيع أن تتحمل هذه القباب.

فلجؤوا إلى حل لهذه المشكلة يتلخص في أن يبنوا بين كل أسطوانة رخام وأخرى دعامة حجرية يكون سمكها بمقدار أربع أسطوانات بحيث يكون بناؤها عبارة عن دعامة حجرية في أول الرواق، ثم أسطوانة من الرخام، ثم دعامة حجرية، ثم أسطوانة من الرخام، وهكذا حتى نهاية الأروقة.

وكان هذا الوضع بالنسبة للجوانب الثلاثة من المسجد وهي الشرقي والشمالي والجنوبي.
أما الجانب الغربي فلم يكن به أسطوانات من الرخام، وإنما كان به أسطوانات حجرية جعلت بدلا من أساطين الرخام عندما احترق المسجد الحرام سنة 802هـ، وقام بتعميره السلطان فرج بن برقوق سنة 804هـ».

بناء مختلف

وبالمقارنة بين الروايتين يبدو أن محمد جاوش المعمار كان يعمل وفق توجيهات المعماري الشهير سنان باشا الذي عينه السلطان سليمان القانوني بمنصب كبير مهندسي الدولة العثمانية، وقام بتنفيذ أكثر من 440 بناء مختلفا في سائر أرجاء الدولة العثمانية طوال حياته التي قاربت من مائة عام.

وكانت الشركة التركية أنشأت نماذج محاكاة لهذه القباب والأروقة في معمل الترميم بمشعر مزدلفة، للتأكد من قدرتها على إعادة بناء الرواق بالطريقة نفسها التي تمت بها في القرن العاشر الهجري وبأعمدة يعود بعضها إلى القرن الثامن (العهد العباسي).

يذكر أن عدد القباب في المبنى العثماني القديم يبلغ 152 قبة موزعة في الواجهات الأربع المحيطة بالكعبة المشرفة.
ولم يتسن الحصول على عدد القباب التي سيتم إنشاؤها فوق أسطح الرواق الجديد الذي يتم تنفيذه الآن ضمن مشروع توسعة صحن المطاف حول الكعبة المشرفة، ورفع الطاقة الاستيعابية من نحو 50 ألفا إلى 105 آلاف طائف في الساعة، وبدأت مطلع العام الهجري الحالي أعمال المرحلة الثالثة للمشروع والتي شملت فك وإزالة الجانب الشرقي للرواق، وإلغاء الواجهة التاريخية بحسب متطلبات التصاميم الأخيرة التي قضت بضرورة إزالة هذا الجانب المحاذي لمبنى المسعى بين الصفا والمروة تحقيقا لفك الاختناق وزيادة الطاقة الاستيعابية للطائفين بحسب تصريحات مسؤولي الرئاسة العامة لشؤون المسجد الحرام والمسجد النبوي.

http://www.makkahnewspaper.com/makka...l#.VK8m1skdPqK

Google translation:

I took the new domes of the Haram al-Sharif location in the western, northern and southern sides by, after a series of experiments and studies and business models to emulate Balkadima in a lab set up in a special Muzdalifah restored the cut corridor created by bin Laden's company, the contractor performing the work of expansion and architecture Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz of the Grand Mosque .

Historic place

The implementation contractor assigned the restoration work to the Turkish Gursoy Group, a company that specializes in the restoration of historic sites around the world.

Indeed, the Turkish company began its mission and handled and rebuilt about 2754 pieces historical from the gallery include columns and domes and Tigana boards carved and others, to re-installed according to the timetable for each stage of the three stages of the expansion project and to be implemented in full within 3 HJ years ending before the pilgrimage season this year 1436.

The member of the senior scientists, Dr. Abdulwahab Abuslaman in a statement »Mecca» to preserve the historic corridor in the Grand Mosque and assign work to a company that specializes in the restoration work at the direction and the keenness of the confirmation of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, that is to maintain this historic place, and added : I think that the gallery will return as it was in implementation of this Royal Decree.

The Abuslaman visited the gallery restoration lab in Jumada II last year, accompanied by the Secretary of the Holy City, Dr. Osama al-Bar and visiting professor Dr. Mirza ascension geographical analysis of American Harvard University Center for the restoration of the porch steps and parts of the ongoing work.

The last building of the domes were in Altosotain Saudetyn first and second building Haram al-Sharif, while the historical ones belonging to another building of the gallery during the reign of the Ottoman Sultan Selim II and Murad and his son under his supervision between 980 984 e.

The two companies Arabia and Turkish experts were surprised after he made a technical examination of the mechanism of the historic building domes in the hallway before the Ottoman dislodged, the discovery of the secret of the secrets of Islamic architecture was unknown throughout the 450-year-old building in this unique domes.

Arts Engineering

According to Dr. ascension Mirza who provided «Mecca» private pictures, the Turkish Gursoy group of experts had told him during his visit to the plant long before they stopped building domes in the Grand Mosque in Mecca way.

And assured him that they had never seen such a way in the past, and that the design is a precedent for the Arts Engineering and Architecture in the modern era, although the building domes on historic buildings much preceding the date of construction of the domes of the Ottoman portico in the Haram al-Sharif.

He pointed out that the Turkish company reached after engineering studies to be the architect who carried out these domes took a special style and genius banner, discrimination location-Sharif in the old house of God.

He added that the company's president told them his belief that the father of Turkish architecture architectural Great «Sinan Pasha» (895 AH - 996 AH / 1490 AD 1588 AD) is a stop behind the creation of the new mechanism and unprecedented in building domes that were headlines in the architectural genius, especially in spaces Engineering open inside the building, when the design and implementation of the Haram al-Amara, and restoration of the domes where the year 945 AH / 1539 AD using the contract Corner with lobes phenomenon the way in the form of conch, in the reign of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent (926 AH - 973 AH / 1520-1566m) who knew his time golden age of the State Ottoman.

Inscriptions Hijaz

Returning to the book by Dr. Mohammed bin Fahd Al Fa'ar «writings and inscriptions in the Hijaz in the Mamluk and Ottoman from the eighth century era until the second century AH» Author said that Sheikh engineers in Egypt Mohammed Jaosh architecture is the engineer who has the mosque architecture Haram in the reign of Sultan Selim II and his son Sultan Murad under his supervision during the four years, only between 980 984 e.

He stressed the author in his book values (p. 401): «we can say that this engineer or architect is the first to introduce the system in the domes of the Grand Mosque Building order of Sultan Selim II».

The «When they wanted to roofing mosque domes and found that this is not possible because the masters of marble which dates back to the Caliph al-Mahdi Abbasi Building (158 169 e) in Amartah two big Grand Mosque the years (160 169 e) can not afford the domes of its weakness, because the dome must be based on four strong pillars of the four sides, so you can assume these domes.

Vljúa a solution to this problem is to be build between each cylinder of marble and other stone pillar be thick by four-cylinder to be built a stone pillar in the first hallway, then a disc made of marble and stone pillar, then cylinder of marble, and so on until the end of the hallway.

This was the situation for the three aspects of the mosque, which is the east and the north and south.

The west side was not doing cylinder of marble, but it has a cylinder made of stone rather than masters of marble when burned the Grand Mosque in 802 AH, and he Ptamierh Sultan Faraj bin plum year 804 AH ».

Various building

A comparison between the two versions seem to be Mohammed Jaosh architecture was working in accordance with the directives of the famous architect Sinan Pasha, who was appointed by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent of the Ottoman Empire senior engineer position, and carried out more than 440 different building throughout the Ottoman Empire throughout his life by almost a hundred years.

The Turkish company has established a simulation of these domes and arcades in the restoration lab Sanctuary Zone Muzdalifah models, to make sure of their ability to rebuild the porch in the same way that it has in the tenth century and columns, some dating back to the eighth century (the Abbasid era).

The number of domes in the old Ottoman building with a dome 152 distributed in the four facades surrounding the Kaaba.

It was not possible to obtain the number of domes that will be created on the roofs of the new corridor that is being implemented now part of a project to expand the dish of the day around the Kaaba, and raise the capacity of about 50 thousand to 105 thousand visitation at the time, began earlier this year AH acts of the third phase of the project, which included decoding and remove the east side of the porch, and the abolition of the historic facade, according to recent designs that eliminated the need to remove this adjacent to the building endeavor between Safa and Marwa side investigation decode choking and increase the capacity of Taivin according to the General Presidency officials for the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque remarks requirements.

Mataf expansion updates

9 January 2015




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 Mataf expansion updates













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even Makkah's pigeon has interest in construction updates.

‘I wish I can live in Madinah forever’

Monday 12 January 2015

Abdul Maksoud Ahmed is a pilgrim from Indonesia. When Arab News met him near the famous Uhud battle site, he was freezing.

But he showed no signs of discomfort. “The temperatures may have plummeted, but the spiritual warmth of this city and the love for our Prophet (peace be upon him) are enough to sustain us,” he said. “I am very happy to be in this holy land.”

Pointing to the Uhud battle site, he said: “When you stand here, you can’t help but go back in time and remember the strength of Islam and the way the Muslims fought the infidels during the Prophet’s time.

“I hope people can learn important lessons and have insights by revisiting the glorious history of Islam.”

He is amazed by the Prophet’s Mosque and the spiritual beauty of Madinah. “I wish I can live here forever. This is a great city. You instantly fall in love with this city,” said Ahmed.

“I feel comfortable and relaxed. I also love the expansion that has taken place.

“I also loved seeing the broad roads, the fancy hotels and big malls,” he said.

Ahmed visited many historical sites and famous mosques, such as Quba, Qiblatain. “I am hoping to come back soon for Haj,” he added.

http://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/news/688241

Madinah Tour

Madinah
_____________________________

Madinah receives more visitors during
the middle of the school year holiday

المدينة المنورة تستقبل مزيدًا من الزوّار خلال إجازة منتصف العام الدراسي

المدينة المنورة 22 ربيع الأول 1436 هـ الموافق 13 يناير 2015 م واس
تستعد منطقة المدينة المنورة، لاستقبال مزيدًا من الزوار خلال إجازة منتصف العام الدراسي التي ستبدأ نهاية هذا الأسبوع, فيما ضاعفت جميع الجهات ذات العلاقة حجم ترتيباتها وخدماتها التي أطلقتها منذ بدء موسم العمرة أوائل شهر صفر الماضي.

ومن المتوقع أن تشهد المنطقة المركزية المحيطة بالمسجد النبوي, كثافة كبيرة خلال هذه الفترة, انطلاقا من حرص القادمين إلى طيبة الطيبة على زيارة المسجد النبوي للصلاة فيه, والسلام على رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم, وعلى صاحبيه رضوان الله عليهما.

كما تتركز في المنطقة المركزية حالياً العديد من الفنادق والنزل والمحلات التجارية, على الرغم من مشروعات الإزالة القائمة ضمن مشروع التوسعة التاريخية للمسجد النبوي التي أمر بها خادم الحرمين الشريفين الملك عبدالله بن عبدالعزيز آل سعود - حفظه الله -.

ويسعد زوار المدينة المنورة برؤية أبرز المعالم الإسلامية والتاريخية المتوزعة في مختلف ضواحيها مثل مساجد قباء والقبلتين والفتح والجمعة, فضلاً عن زيارة بقيع الغرقد الذي يحتضن رفات نحو 10 آلاف من آل بيت وصحابة رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم, وجبل أحد الذي شهد واحدة من أكبر المعارك الفاصلة في بدايات الدولة الإسلامية الأولى وغيرها.

أما الحركة التجارية في الأسواق والمحلات التجارية ستعيش دورة اقتصادية نشطة, حيث يحرص الزوار على اقتناء سلع خاصة اشتهرت بها دار الهجرة النبوية على مر التاريخ, مثل عجوة المدينة, وأصناف متنوعة من التمور, مع الحرص على ابتياع هدايا للأهل والأصدقاء يحتفظ بها أصحابها ذكرى من طيبة الطيبة.

http://www.spa.gov.sa/Search.php?pg=...B1%D8%A9&by1=n

Google translation: Madinah, 22 March 1436, corresponding to January 13, 2015, SPA

Preparing the Madinah area, to receive more visitors during the middle of the school year holiday, which will begin this weekend, with doubled all the relevant authorities size arrangements and services launched since the start of Umrah season early last month by zero.

It is expected to see the central area surrounding the Prophet's Mosque, great intensity during this period, from the keenness of coming to a good good to visit the Prophet's Mosque for prayers and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, and his two companions, God bless them.

It also concentrated in the central region currently many hotels and lodges and shops, although the removal of the existing projects within the historic expansion project for the Prophet's Mosque, which was ordered by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud - may God protect him -.

Happy visitors to Medina to see the highlights of the Islamic historical filed with the various suburbs such as mosques Quba and Islam's conquest and Friday, as well as visit Bakie Algrkd which houses the remains of about 10 thousand from each house and the Companions of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, and mount one who witnessed one of the biggest battles interval at the beginning of the first Islamic state and others.

The commercial activity in markets and shops will live an active economic cycle, where keen visitors to the acquisition of private goods renowned Dar al-Hijrah of the Prophet throughout history, such as Ajwa city, and diverse varieties of dates, taking care to buying the gifts for family and friends kept by their owners remembrance of good good.

Madinah Tour

General statistics
of the Umrah season 1436/2014-15



Until 21 Rabi Al-Awaal 1436 - 11 January 2015

Total Number of the Mutamirs:

1,033,105
______________________________________
Number expected for the whole Umrah season
6,000,000

* Mutamir/s: is/are the one who come into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
to perform Umrah rituals and visit the Prophet's Holy Mosque.

Statistics from Ministry of Hajj


Umrah Season

Haram expansion gains momentum


December 2014

Thursday 15 January 2015

The work on the expansion of the Grand Mosque in Makkah and Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah has been stepped up on the instructions of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah so that they are completed on schedule, said Finance Minister Ibrahim Al-Assaf after inspecting progress in both cities.

“These expansion projects are being carried out in the service of Islam and Muslims from all over the world,” the minister said on Wednesday.

The SR80 billion Makkah project will increase the mosque’s capacity to 2.5 million worshippers while the Madinah mosque expansion will accommodate more than 1.5 million.

In Makkah, Al-Assaf inspected the public transport stations on Ajyad Street behind King Abdul Aziz Endowment Tower, a new hospital project, security buildings, the pedestrian tunnel, the mosque expansion, and the final stage of construction on the mataf, or the circumambulation area around the Holy Kaaba.

“I came to Makkah on the instructions of King Abdullah to inspect progress on the Haram expansion toward the north and the mataf expansion project,” the minister said. “Those implementing these giant projects are doing their job efficiently to complete them on time,” he said.

Prophet’s Mosque expansion

Al-Assaf said the first phase of the Prophet’s Mosque expansion is being implemented on its eastern side with the support of 7,000 engineers and workers. This is the largest in the city’s history.

The Finance Ministry has identified 10,000 properties surrounding the mosque that has to make way for the project. The ministry has already paid compensation to 2,500 property owners. Al-Assaf said the remaining beneficiaries would receive their compensation soon, adding that a specialized committee was working on it.

King Abdullah laid the foundation stone for the expansion project in September 2012. The project, which includes the construction of a new building northeast of the present mosque, is being carried out according to international standards. The annex building covering 82,000 square meters will provide additional prayer space for 167,000 worshippers.

“This will bring the total area of the mosque to 98,500 square meters while the mosque’s terrace, covering 67,000 square meters will accommodate 90,000 worshippers. The project also includes an underground floor to accommodate air conditioning and cooling systems and other services,” he said.

http://www.arabnews.com/featured/news/689746

Prophet’s Mosque expansion



Mataf expansion