Abraj Al Bait Towers

Abraj Al-Bait Towers
Abraj Al-Bait Towers
	Artist's conception of the tower
Information
Location	Mecca, Saudi Arabia
Status	Under construction
Groundbreaking	2005
Estimated completion	2010
Use	Mixed use
Height
Antenna/Spire	595 m (1,952 ft)
Technical details
Floor count	76
Companies
Architect	Dar Al-Handasah Architects
Contractor	Saudi Binladin Group

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The Abraj Al-Bait Towers also known as the "Mecca Royal Clock Hotel Tower" is an obelisk complex under construction in Mecca, Saudi Arabia by the Saudi Binladin Group. Upon completion, the tallest tower in the complex would stand as the tallest building in Saudi Arabia, second tallest building in the world, tallest and largest hotel in the world and the largest building in the world with a planned height of 595 m (1,950 ft). Upon completion, the structure would have the largest floor area of any structure in the world with 1,500,000 m2 of floorspace. This is 470,000 square metres (5,100,000 sq ft) larger than Aalsmeer Flower Auction in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands, which is the current record holder. It is also the second tallest building under construction. The entire project is estimated to be completed in 2009.

The site of the complex is located across the street to the south from an entrance to the Masjid al Haram, which houses the Kaaba, the holiest site in Islam. In order to start construction, the historic Ottoman Ajyad Fortress had to be first completely demolished. To accommodate worshipers who visit the Kaaba, the Abraj Al-Bait Towers will have a large prayer room capable of holding nearly ten thousand people. The tallest tower in the complex will also contain a seven-star hotel to help provide lodging for the over five million pilgrims who travel to Mecca annually to participate in hajj.

In addition, the Abraj Al-Bait Towers will have a four-story shopping mall and a parking garage capable of holding over a thousand vehicles. Residential towers will house permanent residents while two heliports and a conference center are to accommodate business travelers. In total, up to 100,000 people would be housed inside the towers. The project will use clock faces for each side of the Hotel tower. The clocks will be 80 meters high 80 meters wide. They will be located 530 meters high, which would make it the world's highest and largest clock.

[edit] Towers

Tower	Height	Floors	Completion	Status
Hotel Tower	595 m (1,952 ft)	76	2010	Under construction
Hajar	260 m (853 ft)	48	2008	Completed
ZamZam	260 m (853 ft)	48	2006	Completed
Maqam	250 m (820 ft)	45	2009	Under construction
Qibla	250 m (820 ft)	45	2009	Under construction
Marwah	240 m (787 ft)	42	2008	Completed
Safa	240 m (787 ft)	42	2007	Completed