Not only is the Great Mosque of Mecca considered to be the holiest mosque in Islam and the largest in the world, it is also the most expensive building on the planet, worth an incredible £75 billion.
Located in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the Masjid al-Haram has undergone many expansions and renovations throughout time, starting from the era of Abraham and Ismael to the current state under Saudi rule.
Another expansion is currently taking place aiming to increase the mosque’s footprint from 414,000 square meters to a huge 1.564 million square meters, almost doubling the prayer area.
Facilities are also supposed to improve with additional prayer floors with other upgrades such as movable glass domes, intricate facades, and Quranic calligraphy, ensuring a comfortable and pleasant experience for worshippers.
The building is not only of major religious significance but it is also a marvel of architecture and design.
The mosque surrounds the Kaaba the cube-shaped building that Muslims face during daily prayers.
It is draped with a black cloth called the Kiswah, which is embroidered with gold Quranic verses.
Every year, millions of Muslims travel to Mecca to participate in the Hajj pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam.
The mosque is the main site for the pilgrimage which can hold up to 2 million people, where worshippers perform various rituals, including the Tawaf, the act of walking around the Kaaba seven times.
The mosque even features the third largest chandelier in the world, weighing a total of 12 tons.
The mosque is open year-round for prayers, and during the Ramadan month, it becomes a center of worship, drawing Muslims from around the world.
The city of Mecca generates about £8-12 billion every year from the Hajj pilgrimage alone and about £3-4 billion annually from the Umrah pilgrimage, according to the official figures.
The tourism revenues reached about £29 billion in 2023, with net tourism increasing by a huge 38%.