I saw this thread at the top of the list and decided to check it out again after a long time. I dont know if its been mentioned, but this thing to me looks like it would be on the strip in Las Vegas. The side towers could be the hotel rooms and casino straight ahead.

this building is garish but considering the layout of mecca (small buildings hemmed in by mountains) and the magnitude of the amount of pilgrims, it makes sense. i doubt there are many motel 6's and holiday inn's along the freeway around mecca.

I really do not like the clock tower, but I've always liked this project. I think the current version is crap, I fell in love with the 2005 design. Either way though, this is an amazing project for it's location. It will dominate like no other. :)

It does make sense but notheless, the design is not respectful neither of its natural environement nor of the Mecca's mosque.

My 3000th posts !!

I wasn't aware that there was ever any version but the current one. ... Could you link us elsewhere?

any updates for this tower?:(

wow this is one of the strangest looking and most interesting cities I have ever seen. Incredible, look at those basaltic mountains, incredible! I dont particularly like the tower, but what the heck, right? I sure hope to Allah that they didnt destroy any thousand year old structures while building this, since it is across from Islams most holy site. I am sure they destroyed something important to suck off the money from the pilgrims.

^^^ that hotel is seriously needed though....

Can you imagine something like that being constructed on the edge of Vatican City. It is a really different mindset from the West.

I had never seen a picture of Mecca before........but certianly not what I expected. Like many others I imagine..........I pictured Mecca to be nothing but sand sand and a little bit more sand. Hmmmm.

The pictures above seems some new development in other hard living planet. It is kind of like the Endevour or some space shuttle landed in other planet some time ago to make a village or small town for mine and minerals searching. Then this huge Tower to control the selvagerie among all kind of people, mainly prisoners or all type of humanoids to conquest the new desert planet. It is a good scenary next Stars Wars film... and here in Earth. Because of this special Caracter I would like sometime to visit, of course not as pilgrim, but some tourist amenities in this huge hotel.:tup: My question: Where are the spaceships on photo skies??

I can't believe that Muslims let that happen. After all, it's their own sacred ground : they do what they want with it but it is in my opinion disrespectful of the holly ground.

Yeah something like this would never ever happen in the western world. I mean that thing would totally destroy the historical feel of that area by having one of the worlds tallest buildings by it and not like the people that travel there will really be able to stay in it, since I doubt many of them could afford staying there at all. Its a shame.

I agree that it seems in a place of such high spiritual regard, that a purely money making, ego-driven project is built literally next door.. overpowering the place of worship.

And for those of you who would like to visit someday.. I hope you're Muslim. Non-Mulsims are not allowed in Mecca.. Saudi law.. look it up. :gtfo2:

Hi,

I'm new here. I couldn't find an introduce yourself section anywhere so I think I'll just introduce myself here. :) I'm Yasir from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, I've been visiting this site for years and might have even signed up before (can't recall) but this is my first post.

About the Abraj al Bait Project, it isn't really about ego or making money. The complex is, as far as I know, a waqf project which means that it is is for charity. The complex is not owned by King Abdullah who's project it is nor will it be inherited by his children. Also any money made from it would go to charity. There's actually a long history of rulers of Muslims creating waqf endowments in Makkah.

About the location and the size, the rulers of this country were people who once lived hand to mouth in the desert and that made them extremely practical. Building a huge complex close to the Mosque was the most practical alternative in order to accommodate the increasingly large number of pilgrims who arrive every year.

And although the Hajj does stimulate the economy of the Hijaz region, just like it has for thousands of years, I doubt the government makes any money off the hajj. A lot of things are subsidized here, water and flour are two examples and these subsidized goods are consumed by the pilgrims, which costs the government. There are also no taxes on income so money earned by businesses doesn't directly affect the government accounts either.

I'll take pictures of the Abraj and put them up next time I go to makkah. :-)

This is Makkah, for anyone wondering !!

http://www.asarimurni.com/imagehaj/makkah_satalite.jpg

http://www.ece.ubc.ca/~tkhattab/Images/makkah-space.jpg

Man that is dense, sucks that they dont allow non muslims there, otherwise I would totally go! Maybe Ill pretend to be, I wonder if they would know? I could just study the religion and then say I was just to go, hehe, but then I would have bad karma or something.

Thanks for that info Yasir- it does change the perspective a bit if that is indeed true about the proceeds. :) However, given the design of the structure, there is a lot about this that doesn't look very practical! I'm sure there is a huge demand for hotel space, but I still don't get why it has to be such an overpowering structure right next door, competing for attention. IMO it takes away from the significance of the site. :shrug:

I've an open mind, though. I would like more info if you have any more.. and I would LOVE to see more photos. Even if just the city itself. I'm sure a lot of others would be curious as well since most of us are not allowed in the city.. :tup:

Same here!

This thing looks so crazy. :banana: I mean, this building alone is like :worship: but to put such a huge thing right into this town is even :koko:
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