Despite the rapid urban transformations that Makkah has witnessed in recent decades, Islamic architecture still constitutes the spirit and meaning of the place, present in its details and sacred landmarks, even if its features have changed and overlapped with contemporary architecture, while modern projects tend towards modern designs, the competent authorities are keen to integrate Islamic elements in their details, in order to preserve the identity and sanctity of the place.

According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the third Saudi expansion of the Grand Mosque is a clear example of this integration. According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the third Saudi expansion of the Grand Mosque is a clear example of this integration, combining the aesthetics of Islamic architecture and modern construction techniques, through decorative arches, majestic domes and luxurious marble that reflects the spirit of the authentic Islamic style.

According to SPA, the third Saudi expansion of the Grand Mosque is a clear example of this integration.

The arcade is one of the most prominent architectural components in the Grand Mosque, and the most important elements in shaping the functional and aesthetic structure of Islamic architecture in Mecca, especially the Saudi arcade, which is a roofed space that extends on the edges of the nave, carried on regular rows of columns or columns, giving it a distinctive visual presence and making it a structural element that combines practical and artistic purpose.

Throughout the ages, the portico has played a pivotal role in protecting worshippers from harsh weather factors such as the heat of the sun and rain, in addition to its contribution to organizing the movement of crowds inside the Holy Mosque, especially during the seasons of Hajj and Umrah.

Researcher Dr. Muhammad Hamza Ismail Al-Haddad highlights the historical and archaeological value of these arcades in his book "Al-Riwaq in Islamic Architecture in Makkah", explaining that they constituted important stations in the development of Islamic architecture in Makkah, as they witnessed successive transformations from the early renovations of the Islamic eras to the modern era.

The book points out the role of the arcades in the development of Islamic architecture in Makkah. The book refers to the role of arcades in achieving harmony between the internal and external spaces of the mosque, and in highlighting the Meccan urban identity based on combining simplicity and functionality on the one hand, and structural and decorative richness on the other, making them a living witness to an extended architectural history that reflects the sacredness of the place and its transformations through time.

He concluded that the use of arcades in Makkah dates back to the era of the Rashidin caliphs, specifically during the reign of Caliph Uthman bin Affan in 26 AH, before it spread and developed during subsequent eras.

<Today, Makkah is witnessing an increasing interest in reviving heritage buildings with an Islamic character, such as Al-Saqqaf Palace, which is a model of traditional Meccan architecture, in addition to exhibitions that document the development of the architecture of the Two Holy Mosques, reflecting awareness of the importance of preserving the Islamic identity in the face of modern changes.
Specialists emphasize that the preservation of the Islamic style is not limited to decorations, but includes the general identity and spiritual atmosphere of the place, despite the challenges posed by urban pressure, crowds and continuous renewal.

According to the Royal Commission for the Holy City of Makkah and Holy Sites, the link to the city's urban and historical heritage aims to improve the urban landscape and quality of life through innovative urban guidelines in line with the Kingdom's Vision 2030. These guidelines include practical and sustainable solutions that integrate the aesthetic and functional aspects of urban spaces and blocks and enable the concerned authorities and engineering offices to develop the best technical practices.

According to the Royal Commission for Makkah and Holy Sites, the guidelines include practical and sustainable solutions that achieve integration between the aesthetic and functional aspects of the urban spaces and blocks, and enable the concerned authorities and engineering offices to develop the best technical practices. <The Authority explains that the design guidelines for the architecture of Makkah and the Sites are based on three architectural sources: The Second Saudi Expansion of the Grand Mosque, Traditional Architecture, and Landscape, distributed over specific spatial scales.

The Authority explains that the design guidelines for the architecture of Makkah and the Sites are based on three architectural sources.

<The Authority aims to improve the urban structure of areas through the architectural development of growth centers, encourage sustainable design methods, create a guiding methodology to achieve urban excellence and improve the quality of life, by providing an identity for the architecture of Makkah and the holy sites based on the cultural and environmental heritage and simulate future developments, and preserve the nature of the city of Makkah from the peaks and foothills of the mountains and take this into account in the designs, stressing that the authenticity of the architecture of Makkah contributes to enhancing the urban landscape of Mecca and the holy sites and supports Saudi architecture in highlighting the character of Saudi cities with the passage of the Holy City of Makkah. The Municipality of the Holy Capital shows that it pays great attention to preserving the Islamic urban identity, in line with the religious and spiritual status of Makkah, and the Municipality works to apply design standards inspired by the Islamic style in development projects, reflecting the authenticity of Meccan architecture and keeping pace with the requirements of modern development, taking care to unify the aesthetic character of buildings and use materials and colors in harmony with the environment of Makkah, in addition to developing historical neighborhoods in a way that preserves their authentic urban heritage, to achieve the objectives of the Kingdom Vision 2030.

<Dr. Omar Adnan Asra, Head of the Department of Architecture at Umm Al-Qura University, stressed that Makkah is witnessing an urban transformation that reflects the Kingdom's orientation towards building modern cities that preserve its Islamic identity, in line with the objectives of Vision 2030, which focuses on highlighting the Islamic and historical depth in development projects, He believes that Makkah represents a unique model in this context due to its religious and spiritual specificity that requires a deep understanding of its symbolic and spatial dimensions. One of the most prominent examples of this approach is the King Salman Gate project, which draws inspiration from the vocabulary of Islamic architecture such as domes, arches and Meccan decorations and repurposes them in a modern architectural language based on contemporary technologies and concepts of sustainability.

He points out that the future vision of Makkah's architecture is based on harmonizing between originality and renewal, history and innovation, so that the city remains a global model that combines the spirit of heritage and features of modernity, expressing the identity of the place and its place in the heart of the Islamic world.

Overall, it can be said that it is possible to say that Makkah's architecture is a global model. <In sum, it can be said that Islamic architecture in Makkah is still actively present, although it is no longer identical to the old traditional style, but today it is a renewed experience that combines Islamic heritage and modern architecture. The future architecture of Makkah is not just an urban expansion, but a civilizational project that combines originality and innovation, providing a model for a holy city that develops without losing its identity, and the presence of Islamic architecture, despite the expansion of modern urbanization, proves the efforts of the concerned authorities in integrating the Islamic style with contemporary architecture to preserve the religious and historical identity of the city.

Makkah remains an example of a city that is still actively present, even if it no longer matches the old traditional style. Makkah remains an example of a city that has embraced modern architecture without abandoning its roots, so that its Islamic architecture remains a witness to an extended history and a renewed identity.