Mecca has witnessed an unprecedented development renaissance over the past decade, transforming it from a holy city that receives millions of pilgrims to a vibrant economic and population center, within the framework of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which seeks to diversify the economy and achieve sustainable development. Makkah is no longer just a religious destination, but has become a promising investment gateway that embraces giant projects that push it steadily towards the future.

15% of Makkah's workforce

<According to Al Balad Al Amin, the investment arm of the Municipality of the Holy Capital, Makkah is home to 15% of the Kingdom's total labor force, contributes 30% of regional employment and 17% of Makkah's GDP, and accounts for 89% of the region's GDP. With continued population growth expected to reach 3 million by 2030, the city's importance as a demographic and economic center is growing.

100 billion riyals are reshaping the holy capital

<Makkah is witnessing the implementation of quality infrastructure projects worth more than 100 billion riyals, including the Makkah Metro, the "Masar Destination" project, the development of the Holy Sites, and the treatment of slums, in addition to partnerships with local and international developers. These projects redefine the future of the city, making it an integrated investment hub linking the logistical hub of Riyadh, the religious hub of Medina, and the cultural and tourism hub of Jeddah and Taif.

With preparations to welcome more than 30 million pilgrims and Umrah pilgrims annually, Makkah's position as a global destination for Hajj and Umrah services is strengthening, opening up huge investment prospects in the transportation, hospitality, health and technology sectors, and establishing a thriving Hajj and Umrah economy.

"Al Balad Al Ameen": The Kingdom's most prominent investment gateway

<Hattan Tasji, CEO of Al Balad Al Amin, emphasized that the huge investment potential in Makkah reflects an ambitious vision to transform the city into a leading platform for urban development and quality services. He emphasized the importance of cooperation with the private sector to create investment opportunities and achieve leaps in the quality of life and services.

A qualitative urban transformation. From "Haramain Train" to “Al Manar”

<Dr. Omar Adnan Asra, Head of the Department of Architecture at Umm Al-Qura University, stated that transportation projects such as the Haramain Express have played a crucial role in facilitating the movement of pilgrims between Makkah and Madinah, in addition to the development of the road network and bridges. The hotel and tourism infrastructure has also witnessed a qualitative leap with a focus on smart hotels and digital services. He pointed to leaps in the urban development sector with major projects such as Masar and Jabal Omar, as well as growing investments in trade, technology and entrepreneurship, which enhances the diversity of the local economy.

"Makkah buses" and “public transport”. Strategic solutions to congestion

<The public transportation project in Makkah was launched in 2012 as a strategic solution to reduce congestion, especially during the Hajj and Ramadan seasons. The project includes a local and express bus network extending for 275 km across 12 routes, using 400 buses and 438 stops, in addition to 4 central stations, 7 bridges and 11 smart intersections.

<In October 2023, paid services were launched at a price of 4 riyals per ticket with various packages. The number of passengers benefiting from the trial period is estimated at more than 100 million passengers.

The Haramain Train. The fastest and largest in the Middle East

<The Haramain High Speed Rail project cost about 60 billion riyals and is one of the largest transportation projects in the Middle East and the sixth globally. The train connects Mecca and Medina through stations in Jeddah, King Abdulaziz Airport and King Abdullah Economic City, covering the distance between the two cities in just two hours at a speed of 300 km/h. The Jeddah station is the world's largest passenger train station.

Sentiment Train. An urban experience to serve the pilgrims

<The Holy Sites Train is one of the most prominent transportation achievements for the Hajj seasons, as its first flights were launched in 2010, to transport pilgrims between Arafat, Muzdalifah and Mina through a 20-kilometer track. It includes 17 trains with 204 air-conditioned cars with a capacity of 300 pilgrims each. The train transported more than 2.2 million pilgrims during the 2024 Hajj season, with more than 2,200 trips over 7 days.

The Al Manar Project. A modern city inspired by Makkah's heritage

The Roshen Group - affiliated with the Public Investment Fund - has launched Al Manar project on an area of more than 21 million m², providing more than 33,000 residential units along with 150 service facilities including schools, mosques, care centers, and markets. The project is only 20 kilometers away from the Grand Mosque, and its design reflects the spirit of Makkah's urban heritage and aims to enhance the quality of life for the city's residents.

Makkah is on the move. Makkah is moving confidently towards becoming an integrated global city, combining its spirituality, urban and economic development, and is a unique Saudi model in blending authenticity and modernity, thanks to the ambitious vision and qualitative projects that are reshaping the future of the most sacred places on earth.

The project is only a few kilometers away from the Makkah Grand Mosque, and its design reflects Makkah's urban heritage and aims to enhance the quality of life for the city's residents.