Saudi Gazette report
MAKKAH — As many as 35,000 workers are giving the final touches to the expansion work of the Mataf (circumambulation area) and the northern plazas of the Grand Mosque in Makkah.
Quoting informed sources, Makkah daily said on Monday that about 14,000 workers are involved in the Mataf expansion project while 21,000 others are carrying out the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques project to expand the Grand Mosque and its northern plazas.
The sources said the workers in the expansion of the plazas and the mataf are doing the final touches, installing the systems of lighting, sound, cooling and communications.
They said the workers are also finalizing the construction the of King Abdullah dome over the extended portion of the Grand Mosque which is considered to be one of the largest domes in the world.
The workers consist of those skilled in marble and mosaic work and other fields.
Climatologists are also studying the various weather conditions around the year so as to keep the Grand Mosque cool in winter for the comfort of pilgrims and visitors.
Toilets ablution areas in the northern plazas have already been completed and being used by pilgrims and visitors.
The pilgrims are using the entire area of the outside plazas, the ground floor of the mataf expansion, the basement, the first and second floors and the whole area of the Haram’s roof.
According to the sources, when the expansion work is completed, the workers will start building flyovers leading to the Grand Mosque from its four corners.
In July, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman inaugurated five new projects as part of the third expansion of the Grand Mosque.
