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"For over a decade, Mecca – the holiest city in Islam – has been undergoing an unprecedented level of reconstruction to accommodate millions of pilgrims arriving year round. However, critics argue the massive expansion efforts have mercilessly destroyed invaluable historical and cultural sites, substituting them for crass commercialization and symbols of Saudi rule.
Without a doubt, Mecca is an extraordinary city. With a history stretching back before 600 BCE, Mecca has always been an important religious and economic center. But after the seventh century, with the emergence of Islam, the city, with the Kaaba at its core, became a commanding symbol of faith and power.
For more than a billion Muslims, prayers must face the direction of the Kaaba and each Muslim must perform pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lives.
Today, Mecca and its surroundings – with an estimated resident population of two million living in an area smaller than the city of London – is visited by at least 15 million Muslims throughout the year, three million of them descending at once during the Hajj period.
The level of crowd-management needed to shepherd and ensure safety would be a logistical nightmare for any authority.
“Fifty years ago, Mecca wasn't a huge destination,” explained Abdul-Halim Jabr, an urban design consultant based in Beirut, who had worked for a few projects in the ancient city.
Jabr postulated the problem facing the Saudi kingdom arose after travel became cheaper, which in turn facilitated the growth of package tourism for Hajj and Umrah (a minor pilgrimage, performed at any time). In particular, the urban design consultant said, the increase of quotas by the authorities allowed two things to occur: it offset huge occupational fluctuations during peak and low pilgrimage seasons, and encouraged repeated Umrah visits.
“That occurred before they had a plan for a proactive, protected form of development for Mecca. They have tried to place strict controls for quotas now, but the damage is already done,” Jabr said.
Under the pretext of alleviating these growing pressures, Saudi authorities undertook various construction projects during the last three decades to revamp infrastructure and expand sites like the Grand Mosque, that surrounds the Kaaba, to accommodate the flow of millions of people.
“Mecca, especially the area around the Grand Mosque, is one giant construction zone, bigger than anything I've seen in my life,” said Nasser, a 29 year-old Kuwaiti engineer who visited Mecca twice, once in 2007, and recently in February.
“It's the biggest crowd control dilemma in the world,” he added, “[the authorities] are trying by building trains, highways, and a walkway that circles the Kaaba. It's an engineering nightmare.”
The struggle over heritage
In the past decade, construction quickened and became more ambitious.
An estimated $20 billion has been spent on mega-projects which include a planned train system, mosque expansions, and the construction of fancy hotels and residential and retail complexes.
But these developments have taken a heavy toll on the cultural and historical relics that existed in Mecca for over a thousand years, a majority of which were removed to make way for the modernizing developments.
Saudi authorities, supported by religious scholars, offer a twofold argument for the removal of heritage sites: first, these sites pose security risks for visiting pilgrims due to their structural instability; and secondly, that these sites, while lacking any religious significance, may result in shirq, the worshiping of a person or object at the same level as God.
“The expansions for the Two Holy Mosques cannot be possible without the removal of these historic and religious relics, that can also potentially harm Muslims if they stay,” Saudi-based Sheikh Ibrahim al-Zoaby explained to Al-Akhbar...
The 'Vegasization' of Mecca
Beyond the debate over heritage preservation, another crucial criticism towards the development projects revolve around Mecca's commercialization.
“Mecca, to my regret, has become a site for real estate speculation. The name of the game is proximity to the Kaaba,” Jabr said, “Land is more expensive around the Grand Mosque than prime locations in major cities like New York or Paris.”
Two examples epitomizing these concern are the Jabal Omar complex, a 40-tower site, consisting of five star hotels, high-rises holding more than 500 restaurants and 4,000 commercial and retail shops, and the Abraj al-Bait Towers, which includes the Mecca Clock Royal Tower Hotel, the world's third tallest tower and the world's largest clock.
Like other mega-projects, foundations for the Abraj al-Bait Towers were built above an 18th century Ottoman citadel called the Ajyad Fortress, leveled in 2002.
Moreover, the buildings taking the place of ancient neighborhoods are designed to cater to the wealthy.
The asking price for a small studio apartment at the Abraj Towers starts at around $650,000, while renting a hotel room or apartment close to the Grand Mosque and other historic sites can cost more than $500 per night.
These rates clash with the spirit of Hajj, meant to bring Muslims together regardless of class, nationality, or creed.
“I cannot find anyone who defends the clock-tower, even the most patriotic Saudi cannot defend it. It is a travesty, a huge colossal mistake by any standards – religiously or in terms of urban design,” Jabr opined.
“In the seven years since my last visit, they built the clock-tower and the hotels. It's a monstrosity. Rather than having all eyes fall on the Kaaba, now all eyes look up to the clock-tower,” Nasser remarked.
Nasser further remarked that hotels, retail, and other commercial center logos dominate much of the city...
http://english.al-akhbar.com/node/18888
"For over a decade, Mecca – the holiest city in Islam – has been undergoing an unprecedented level of reconstruction to accommodate millions of pilgrims arriving year round. However, critics argue the massive expansion efforts have mercilessly destroyed invaluable historical and cultural sites, substituting them for crass commercialization and symbols of Saudi rule.
Without a doubt, Mecca is an extraordinary city. With a history stretching back before 600 BCE, Mecca has always been an important religious and economic center. But after the seventh century, with the emergence of Islam, the city, with the Kaaba at its core, became a commanding symbol of faith and power.
For more than a billion Muslims, prayers must face the direction of the Kaaba and each Muslim must perform pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lives.
Today, Mecca and its surroundings – with an estimated resident population of two million living in an area smaller than the city of London – is visited by at least 15 million Muslims throughout the year, three million of them descending at once during the Hajj period.
The level of crowd-management needed to shepherd and ensure safety would be a logistical nightmare for any authority.
“Fifty years ago, Mecca wasn't a huge destination,” explained Abdul-Halim Jabr, an urban design consultant based in Beirut, who had worked for a few projects in the ancient city.
Jabr postulated the problem facing the Saudi kingdom arose after travel became cheaper, which in turn facilitated the growth of package tourism for Hajj and Umrah (a minor pilgrimage, performed at any time). In particular, the urban design consultant said, the increase of quotas by the authorities allowed two things to occur: it offset huge occupational fluctuations during peak and low pilgrimage seasons, and encouraged repeated Umrah visits.
“That occurred before they had a plan for a proactive, protected form of development for Mecca. They have tried to place strict controls for quotas now, but the damage is already done,” Jabr said.
Under the pretext of alleviating these growing pressures, Saudi authorities undertook various construction projects during the last three decades to revamp infrastructure and expand sites like the Grand Mosque, that surrounds the Kaaba, to accommodate the flow of millions of people.
“Mecca, especially the area around the Grand Mosque, is one giant construction zone, bigger than anything I've seen in my life,” said Nasser, a 29 year-old Kuwaiti engineer who visited Mecca twice, once in 2007, and recently in February.
“It's the biggest crowd control dilemma in the world,” he added, “[the authorities] are trying by building trains, highways, and a walkway that circles the Kaaba. It's an engineering nightmare.”
The struggle over heritage
In the past decade, construction quickened and became more ambitious.
An estimated $20 billion has been spent on mega-projects which include a planned train system, mosque expansions, and the construction of fancy hotels and residential and retail complexes.
But these developments have taken a heavy toll on the cultural and historical relics that existed in Mecca for over a thousand years, a majority of which were removed to make way for the modernizing developments.
Saudi authorities, supported by religious scholars, offer a twofold argument for the removal of heritage sites: first, these sites pose security risks for visiting pilgrims due to their structural instability; and secondly, that these sites, while lacking any religious significance, may result in shirq, the worshiping of a person or object at the same level as God.
“The expansions for the Two Holy Mosques cannot be possible without the removal of these historic and religious relics, that can also potentially harm Muslims if they stay,” Saudi-based Sheikh Ibrahim al-Zoaby explained to Al-Akhbar...
The 'Vegasization' of Mecca
Beyond the debate over heritage preservation, another crucial criticism towards the development projects revolve around Mecca's commercialization.
“Mecca, to my regret, has become a site for real estate speculation. The name of the game is proximity to the Kaaba,” Jabr said, “Land is more expensive around the Grand Mosque than prime locations in major cities like New York or Paris.”
Two examples epitomizing these concern are the Jabal Omar complex, a 40-tower site, consisting of five star hotels, high-rises holding more than 500 restaurants and 4,000 commercial and retail shops, and the Abraj al-Bait Towers, which includes the Mecca Clock Royal Tower Hotel, the world's third tallest tower and the world's largest clock.
Like other mega-projects, foundations for the Abraj al-Bait Towers were built above an 18th century Ottoman citadel called the Ajyad Fortress, leveled in 2002.
Moreover, the buildings taking the place of ancient neighborhoods are designed to cater to the wealthy.
The asking price for a small studio apartment at the Abraj Towers starts at around $650,000, while renting a hotel room or apartment close to the Grand Mosque and other historic sites can cost more than $500 per night.
These rates clash with the spirit of Hajj, meant to bring Muslims together regardless of class, nationality, or creed.
“I cannot find anyone who defends the clock-tower, even the most patriotic Saudi cannot defend it. It is a travesty, a huge colossal mistake by any standards – religiously or in terms of urban design,” Jabr opined.
“In the seven years since my last visit, they built the clock-tower and the hotels. It's a monstrosity. Rather than having all eyes fall on the Kaaba, now all eyes look up to the clock-tower,” Nasser remarked.
Nasser further remarked that hotels, retail, and other commercial center logos dominate much of the city...
http://english.al-akhbar.com/node/18888
