The Third Saudi Expansion of the Grand Mosque in Makkah continues to reshape the holiest site in Islam, adding vast prayer space and services designed to accommodate the rising tide of pilgrims. According to the Saudi Press Agency, the project has raised the mosque's capacity to around 1.85 million worshippers, with further work aimed at pushing that figure beyond two million.
The scale of the project
The expansion covers roughly 1,214,000 square metres, a footprint larger than the original mosque itself. It comprises new prayer yards, walkways, tunnels, and upgraded service facilities. When fully complete, planners expect the Grand Mosque to hold more than two million people at once, a capacity that reflects Saudi Arabia's target of welcoming far greater numbers of Umrah and Hajj pilgrims in the years ahead.
Keeping such a space comfortable in the heat of Makkah is a major undertaking. The expansion is served by a cooling capacity of about 90,000 tons, part of a wider effort to maintain a bearable atmosphere for worshippers throughout the year. The Kingdom has invested heavily in cooling and shading across the holy sites as summers grow hotter.
Services built for millions
The numbers behind the expansion illustrate the logistics of serving a crowd on this scale. Facilities include more than 25,000 carpets and about 17,000 Zamzam water dispensers, ensuring worshippers can drink and pray comfortably across the complex. Sanitation has been expanded to 11,436 restrooms and ablution areas.
Movement and communication have also been addressed. The site features 428 escalators, 28 elevators, and 80 doors to move people efficiently between levels and out to the courtyards. A network of 1,300 speakers carries the call to prayer and the imam's voice clearly across all levels, while 458 drinking fountains and 120 prayer areas are distributed throughout the structure.
Why the expansion matters
The Grand Mosque surrounds the Ka'bah, toward which Muslims worldwide direct their prayers, and every pilgrim performing Umrah or Hajj passes through it. As the number of visitors climbs, congestion during Tawaf and at peak prayer times has become one of the central challenges of crowd management. Additional space, smoother circulation, and more service points all help reduce the crushing density that once marked the busiest hours.
The project was launched under King Abdullah and carried forward under King Salman, and it forms part of a long line of expansions that have enlarged the mosque many times over across the decades. It complements other developments in central Makkah aimed at improving access to the Haram and elevating the quality of the pilgrim journey.
Authorities have emphasised that the expansion is matched by continuous operational care, from cleaning and maintenance to the distribution of Zamzam water and the staffing of service points around the clock. The scale of the undertaking reflects a long-term view: as Saudi Arabia works toward welcoming tens of millions of Umrah pilgrims each year, the physical capacity of the Grand Mosque is treated as a foundation on which every other service depends.
Practical tips for pilgrims
Pilgrims planning to worship in the expanded mosque can benefit from a few practical habits. Familiarise yourself with the numbered gates and the level you intend to use, since the complex is large and landmarks help you find your group again if separated. Consider praying and performing Tawaf outside the very busiest windows, such as immediately after obligatory prayers, when the newer upper levels and courtyards can offer more room. Stay hydrated using the many Zamzam and drinking points, especially in summer, and use the escalators and elevators if stairs are difficult. Finally, agree on a clear meeting point with travelling companions before entering, as reuniting inside a mosque holding well over a million people can otherwise be slow.