Makkah & Medina
From The Report: Saudi Arabia 2016
View in Online Reader

As home to the world’s most important Islamic sites – including the Masjid Al Haram, or Grand Mosque, which houses the Kaaba – the holy cities of Makkah and Medina are at the centre of religious life for the world’s 1.2bn-strong Muslim population. Located near Jeddah, in western Saudi Arabia, each year the two cities attract millions of religious visitors performing the annual pilgrimages of Hajj and Umrah. In an attempt to cope with the ever-expanding resident population as well as the rising influx of yearly visitors, the government has rolled out a series of overlapping, comprehensive strategies in recent years aimed at updating and expanding the Makkah and Medina regions’ transport networks, housing stock, utilities systems and related facilities.

This chapter contains an interview with Osama Al-Bar, Mayor of Makkah.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Unique circumstances: Despite challenges, these two holy cities are poised for growth
OBG
plus

As home to the world’s most important Islamic sites – including the Masjid Al Haram, or Grand Mosque, which houses the Kaaba – the holy cities of Makkah and Medina are at the centre of religious life for the world’s 1.2bn-strong Muslim population. Located near Jeddah, in western Saudi Arabia, each year the two cities attract millions of religious visitors performing the annual pilgrimages of Hajj and Umrah. Population Pressure The annual influx of pilgrims, along with the rapidly expanding…

Analysis

Boosting travel capacity: A range of new transport links are set to transform the region
OBG
plus

Over the last five years several major public transport development programmes have been launched in the cities of Makkah and Medina. Now in the design, tendering and construction phases, these initiatives have the potential to transform the way residents and pilgrims travel to, from and within Islam’s most important sites. The SR62bn ($16.5bn) Makkah Public Transport Programme, launched in August 2012, comprises a rapid-transit bus network and four interconnected metro lines with a total of 88…

Interview

Facilitating movement: OBG talks to Osama Al Bar, Mayor of Makkah
OBG
plus

Interview:Osama Al Bar How can the private sector play a bigger role in the development of the two holy mosques, especially in relation to religious tourism? OSAMA AL BAR: Religious tourism makes up the bulk of the domestic and international tourism in Saudi Arabia, with the two holy mosques at Makkah and Medina in the western region of the Kingdom attracting significant numbers of visitors annually. Makkah receives over 3m pilgrims a year during the Hajj and 6m pilgrims for Umrah during…