King launches largest expansion of Prophet’s Mosque

[A.Rafay]

MADINAH - Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah laid the foundation stone for the largest expansion of the Prophet’s Mosque. The new project will increase the mosque’s capacity to more than two million worshipers.
King Abdullah arrived here last night from the Moroccan city of Casablanca and was received at Prince Muhammad International Airport in Madinah by Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense.
Other dignitaries who were present at the airport to receive the king were Interior Minister Prince Ahmed, Chief of the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment Prince Turki bin Nasser and Deputy Defense Minister Prince Khaled bin Sultan.
Addressing the stone-laying ceremony at the mosque’s courtyard, Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, chief of the Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques, commended King Abdullah for launching the largest expansion of both Haram mosques in Makkah and Madinah.
The new expansion project, ordered by King Abdullah, would be carried out in three phases. The first phase will increase its capacity to more than 800,000 worshippers while the second and third phases will give room for more than a million worshippers, media reports said.
“Altogether the new expansion will create an additional space for 1.2 million worshippers by 2040,” Al-Madinah Arabic daily reported, quoting informed sources.
A number of hotels and buildings in the area would be demolished to create enough space for implementing the huge expansion project. The newspaper put the total amount to be paid to property owners in compensation at SR 25 billion.
In order to carry out the expansion, the Madinah Development Authority will have to remove 23 hotels from the central area around the mosque, one report said, adding that the removal of those hotels would create a shortage of 4,760 rooms to accommodate those who visit the mosque.
The MDA has played down the effect of losing such a large number of rooms, saying 21 new hotel projects would be completed this year to make up for the shortfall.
Madinah Gov. Prince Abdul Aziz bin Majed said King Abdullah would inaugurate a number of health, educational and social projects in the city during his current visit.
“King Abdullah’s visit reflects the cohesion between the Saudi leadership and people and his desire to enhance the prosperity of citizens in the region,” he added.
Madinah residents have expressed their happiness over King Abdullah’s visit. “We have been looking forward to this royal visit,” said Adnan Al-Mazroue, president of Taibah University. He praised the king for implementing a large number of welfare and development projects in various parts of the country.

 

[JUBA]

This is how the prophet mosque will look after the expansion

 

[BLACKEAGLE]

King Abdullah truly deserves the nickname "the custodian of the two holy mosques".

 

[Sinnerman108]

King Abdullah truly deserves the nickname "the custodian of the two holy mosques".

Chief sponser or Chief construction consultant is more like it

Let the custody be to Allah.

 

[BLACKEAGLE]

Chief sponser or Chief construction consultant is more like it

Let the custody be to Allah.

Since you live in Saudi Arabia, I think you know the original Arabic word which is "خادم". So it's more of a servant than custodian.

 

[Kompromat]

Dome should stay green, i hope they don't change it.

 

[livingdead]

In photo it looks mostly white? is it made from marble?

 

[SQ8]

I hope they dont take those iconic umbrellas down.. I love them.. they are the best place to sit down and take a break.

However..the Green color should not be changed..
It is also interesting.. that the new king.. has been known to revere the Prophet more than his predecessors'..and has on more than one occasion.. told a Mutawwa off who tried to "correct" him when he said Fateha and Durud during his visit to Medina.
May this change to rid the disease originating from the northwest be fruitful.

 

[A.Rafay]

Dome should stay green, i hope they don't change it.

In the render the green dome id not changed but a huge big dome is constructed on the opposite side of green dome, The green dome almostly looks smaller than that huge white dome at opposite side!

 

[A.Rafay]

 

[A.Rafay]

 

[Mosamania]

The dome is still green and it is still there. But the expansion is so huge you don't see it of you don't pay attention.

The green dome is on the corner of the opposite building to the left.

 

[Banu Umayyah]

I hope they dont take those iconic umbrellas down.. I love them.. they are the best place to sit down and take a break.

However..the Green color should not be changed..
It is also interesting.. that the new king.. has been known to revere the Prophet more than his predecessors'..and has on more than one occasion.. told a Mutawwa off who tried to "correct" him when he said Fateha and Durud during his visit to Medina.
May this change to rid the disease originating from the northwest be fruitful.

what disease?

 

[Zarvan]

This is how the prophet mosque will look after the expansion

Well that is massive just fabulous but the roza will not remain that prominent in this new structure that is a draw back of this design

 

[Sinnerman108]

Probably one of the reason Madina is so peaceful is because it has been very well planned thus it is not cramped for room.

I hope they can do a similar thing in Macca also.

The Haram needs to double or tripple in size.