Makkah to get SR100 bn in development funds

Saudi Arabia is planning to pump more than SR100 billion ($27bn) over next 10 years to develop Makkah into a modern city, its mayor was reported on Thursday as saying.

“Over SR100bn over 10 years has been earmarked for development of Makkah into a modern city,” Osama Al Bar told Saudi Gazette English language daily.

He said one project, estimated at SR1bn will see all the government offices move to Bawwaba Gate on the Makkah Highway. For this project, three million square meters of land has been reserved, he said, adding that the Ministry of Finance will soon release the funds.

“Within the next three years, the Kingdom will be able to accommodate 10 million pilgrims during Haj.”
More than two million Muslims converge on Makkah, Islam’s holiest shrine, every year for the annual pilgrimage that has involved many accidents over the past few years.

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