Saudi Arabia has launched the King Salman Gate project, a massive mixed-use development beside Mecca’s Grand Mosque, adding space for 900,000 worshippers along with residential, hospitality, and cultural facilities.
Announced by the Saudi Press Agency, the project spans 12 million square meters and blends Mecca’s traditional architecture with modern infrastructure. It aims to enhance the experience of millions of pilgrims while creating 300,000 jobs by 2036.
The development will be seamlessly connected to public transport and complements other major projects like Masar, which will deliver at least 40,000 new hotel rooms.
Part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, the initiative supports efforts to diversify the economy beyond oil and increase pilgrimage-related revenue, which reached $12 billion in 2019. The announcement follows a recent Grand Mosque expansion that now accommodates two million worshippers.
