Makkah hotel to dwarf rivals

[Zarvan]

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  MARVELOUS: An artist’s rendition of the largest hotel in Makkah.
  

ARAB NEWS

Published — Tuesday 19 May 2015

Last update 19 May 2015 2:05 am


JEDDAH: The holy city of Makkah will host the largest hotel in the world with 10,000 rooms, 70 restaurants, shopping centers and a helipad, informed sources said. The project valued at $3.5 billion will be ready in two years.
Covering an area of 686,000 square feet, Abraj Kudai will also have royal suites, prayer halls and a convention center — all in 12 separate towers. The focal point, however, will be the central dome, expected to be one of the largest and tallest in the world.
As the site of the hotel is only about a mile from the Grand Mosque, it is expected to host many of the millions of pilgrims. However, guests may need a robust bank account to book a room as the target will be high-end customers — who can afford four-star luxury in 10 towers and five-star hotels in two.
As for the architecture, the Abraj Kudai looks like a semi-futuristic, sand-colored, desert version of a 1930s Manhattan high-rise. Inside, London-based Areen Hospitality has been given the task of decorating the vast area.
But it’s no sweat off the brow of Areen Hospitality, according to Andrew Lindwood, head of design at Areen Hospitality, who told ArabianBusiness.com: “We allow for this and have the experience to respond to such a challenge, without ever losing the creative essence needed to welcome and surprise the guests expected at Abraj Kudai.”
Makkah hotel to dwarf rivals | Arab News

 

[salarsikander]

Hi,
Sadly turning Makkah into some las Vegas tourist kind of city

 

[LfcRed]

I personally see no harm in it. There are more pilgrims visiting Makkah than any number of tourists visiting any other city. It is crucial to have as many hotels and as big as possible if you see how far people have to stay from the masjid in peak seasons. And comparing it to Las Vegas is quite unreasonable. If you gonna build a huge hotel no harm in beautifying it. After all the hotels are a business and got to have some appeal to people.

 

[K M Cariappa]

Saw a documentary once where the people on Haj were criticizing the hotels that are being built in Mecca and Madina... Read that the Saudis have begun demolishing the Grand mosque for the purpose of renovation...

The photos Saudi Arabia doesn't want seen – and proof Islam's most holy relics are being demolished in Mecca - Middle East - World - The Independent

This above article shows some of the construction pics...

 

[Saif al-Arab]

Makkah is one giant construction right now.

Give it less than a decade and most of the projects will be finished until further expansions will occur in the upcoming decades. Makkah was always a vibrant city in constant development (almost) and will remain that even more so in the future.

Instead of slums on the mountain/hill tops such neighborhoods will be built.

Ongoing "Jabal Omar Project" on the left and the "slums" on the right.

There is an obvious need for modernization and improvement of the infrastructure. Far, far early to draw any conclusions when not even 20% of the planned work in Makkah has been completed.

Key word here is patience.

 

[SipahSalar]

Sauds are doing a good job of making mecca into vegas....

 

[Saif al-Arab]

Sauds are doing a good job of making mecca into vegas....

No, rather the Red Light District in Amsterdam.

 

[SipahSalar]

No, rather the Red Light District in Amsterdam.

Don't you think that when you are at Kaaba and you see these towering sky scrapers that dwarf the Kaaba, the place feels much less spiritual than it should? Nothing wrong with building hotels especially since so many people visit the city, but they should have been built at a great distance from Kaaba.

 

[chauvunist]

Good job...S.Arabia is working hard to make Hajj as much facilitative as they can for pilgrims,for which they should be lauded...

 

[Saif al-Arab]

Don't you think that when you are at Kaaba and you see these towering sky scrapers that dwarf the Kaaba, the place feels much less spiritual than it should? Nothing wrong with building hotels especially since so many people visit the city, but they should have been built at a great distance from Kaaba.

Wait for the final end result. Al-Masjid al-Haram will not be dwarfed when the expansion project will be finished. A ton of work is yet to be done in Makkah. Abraj al-Bait won't stand on its own.

Makkah ain't a museum and times change. Some find those "slums" charming because they are old but many don't including myself. Makkah will change dramatically once all of those ongoing projects will be finished. In 50 years time it will change even more.

I am in full support of the modernization, infrastructural projects and improvements. If somebody is planning to visit Makkah for hajj or umrah due to aesthetics alone they have misunderstood something and are traveling during a bad period on this front as Makkah is one giant construction right now and will be in the foreseeable future.

In 2025 most of all of those projects will be finished and Makkah will look vastly different and better.

Life will be much easier for pilgrims and citizens alike.

"Makkah and Madinah News and Updates"

 

[denel]

first class page from vegas.... Freud will be proud of this theories coming true here.

 

[Jungibaaz]

Don't you think that when you are at Kaaba and you see these towering sky scrapers that dwarf the Kaaba, the place feels much less spiritual than it should? Nothing wrong with building hotels especially since so many people visit the city, but they should have been built at a great distance from Kaaba.

Spiritual? This place does not lose any potency on the account of feeble deeds of men. Also, how do you propose to accommodate the ever growing numbers, growing demand for quality accommodation all year round?

I think they're doing a fine job.

 

[azzo]

Sauds are doing a good job of making mecca into vegas....

So you would prefer pilgrims to die in hundreds in stampedes or sleep on the streets just so you don't change the "look" of Makkah or whatever?

Makkah isn't just a historic site and it is not a Museum. It's a vibrant, organic, and an ever changing city, and must remain so to accommodate the growing numbers of Muslims year after year.

Pilgrims' well being take precedent over stones and bricks. And Saudi Arabia does what it can to relocate and move historic monuments away from critical spots into more suitable facilities for preservation.

If you're jealous that Qum/Karbala will never be on par with Makkah/Madinah, then just say so.