Plans to construct a new airport and a metro system in Makkah are actively progressing as the city undertakes significant transport and infrastructure enhancements. Saleh Al-Rasheed, CEO of the Royal Commission for Makkah City and the Holy Sites, confirmed that strategic and economic investment approvals have been secured to develop Makkah Airport to international standards, aiming to accommodate millions of visitors annually.
He emphasized that the Commission will collaborate with the private sector to establish viable investment models that will not compromise the operational viability of airports in nearby cities. Additionally, feasibility studies and initial designs for the Makkah Metro have been finalized, marking a critical step forward in the city’s transport modernization.
Beyond transportation, Al-Rasheed outlined comprehensive initiatives to enhance services and overall quality of life for both residents and pilgrims. These projects span housing, infrastructure, and public services, all tailored to meet community needs. A key objective is to elevate satisfaction rates among residents and visitors to 90.5% by 2025.
Among the innovative programs is “Smart Makkah,” which leverages artificial intelligence to monitor and manage crowd movements within the Grand Mosque and its surrounding areas. This includes predictive crowd flow systems at the Jamarat Bridge and central zones, as well as aerial imaging integrated with the “Balady” app to improve the pilgrim experience.
Transport enhancements also feature improvements to bus, taxi, and guided transport services. The launch of “Makkah Taxi” introduces modern vehicles equipped with tracking technology, electronic payment options, and environmentally friendly electric and hybrid models. Currently, the city’s bus network operates 400 buses across 12 routes, covering 430 stops and four main stations in the central area. Since its inception in February 2022, the service has transported over 185 million passengers, completing more than 3.8 million trips.
Infrastructure developments include the completion of major segments of the first, second, and third ring roads, which connect to key routes leading to the Grand Mosque and other holy sites, such as King Abdulaziz Road and Ibrahim Al-Khalil Road. City entrances have also been upgraded to improve access.
Service facilities around the Grand Mosque have been expanded, featuring 60 maintenance buildings and 32 electric escalators to boost operational efficiency and support the sustainability of Hajj activities. Development efforts extend to eight sites in Arafat covering roughly 190,000 square meters, the installation of two-story tents over 33,000 square meters, construction of 10 residential towers accommodating 27,000 pilgrims, and a 200-bed emergency hospital in Mina.
In terms of sustainability, the Commission, through Kidana Development Company, is planting 20,000 trees, developing water-cycle complexes, and creating shaded, cooled walkways spanning more than 285,000 square meters. Integrated waste management projects, conducted in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, have generated savings exceeding SR310 million by improving water and sewage infrastructure.
These advancements will also benefit the private sector, including the establishment of the West Jamarat station, which will enable Tawaf Al-Ifadah to be completed within 20 minutes and accommodate 20,000 passengers per hour. Furthermore, six new public markets are being developed alongside upgrades to three existing ones.
Finally, the Commission has adopted a holistic approach to revitalizing central areas by increasing pedestrian zones by 127%, adding over 30,000 square meters of shaded spaces, and enhancing crowd management to alleviate congestion.
