'Luxurising the sacred': New Mecca mega project sparks debate

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman officially launched a massive development project next to Mecca’s Grand Mosque on Wednesday. 

The King Salman Gate project aims to provide space for approximately 900,000 worshippers, both indoors and outdoors, to help manage peak demand around pilgrimage.

A computer-generated promotional video features dozens of golden towers overlooking the Kaaba, as a speaker promises a world-class "mixed-use destination", "iconic architecture" and residences with views of, and easy access to, the holiest site in Islam.

According to the Saudi Press Agency, the project aims to “preserve Mecca's historical and cultural heritage” by developing and restoring about 19,000 square metres of cultural and heritage areas, and contributes to the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 by creating over 300,000 job opportunities by 2036. 

The announcement of the project sparked mixed opinions among social media users.

Some have welcomed it as a necessary step to help accommodate the growing number of pilgrims who flock to the city for Hajj, the annual obligatory pilgrimage that every able Muslim is required to perform at least once in their lifetime; and Umrah, the shorter, voluntary pilgrimage.

“This is just one of many bold steps that reaffirm the Kingdom’s sacred commitment, as Custodians of the Two Holy Mosques, to serve pilgrims and enrich their journey,” wrote a Saudi X user.

But many others criticised the “luxurising” of the sacred, arguing that the project would overshadow the spiritual depth of the holy city with a glitzy architectural display.

Translation: The #KingSalmanGate project aims to preserve the historical and cultural heritage of the city of Mecca Al-Mukarramah by developing and rehabilitating approximately 19,000 m² of cultural and heritage areas, to enrich the experience of its visitors and contribute to achieving the goals of #SaudiVision2030 through the creation of more than 300,000 job opportunities by 2036.

“How about a project where instead of it all being about luxurising the experience of the sacred through the culture of grandiose materialisation... its (sic) more about cultivating a comfortably direct experience of the sacred as it is, maximising its own intrinsic sacred grandeur, that too equally accessible for all economic classes,” one X user posted.

Several users agreed. 

“Everything to distract you from the main purpose of going there,” another person wrote.

Another responded: “If I have the pleasure of being invited for umrah or hajj, I could never look up. This would be so distracting. Imagine the amount of people who would be stopping to take pictures instead of focusing on the sacredness of the space."

Another user argued that the project appears to be increasingly targeted at the wealthy, making it less accessible to the poor and middle class.

“The Al Saud’s are turning the holy sites into a sort of Las Vegas,” another wrote.

Others found the criticism unfounded, saying that a project in such an important city should be celebrated. 

"I don’t agree with everything Saudi Arabia does, but why the annoyance about this specifically? On the contrary, it’s something honorable and shows respect for sacred places," said one user.

Another added: "If Saudi didn’t expand and develop the holy cities they would be accused of hoarding money."

https://x.com/Omar_K_Ibrahem/status/1978505517442932908"I was stunned by the condition of the City of Mecca when I first visited in 2024, it was so dilapidated and unkempt," said one X user. "I am glad steps are being taken to clean it up. Not so sure about more big towers though."

Middle East Eye has reached out to Saudi Arabian authorities for comment.