Makkah

Makkah Al-Mukarramah is located in the western part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with its origins tracing back to Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and his son Ismail. The city is known by several names mentioned in the Holy Qur’an, including Umm Al-Qura, Bakkah, and Al-Balad Al-Ameen. Makkah is served by a modern network of roads and tunnels that connect its outskirts to Al-Masjid Al-Haram at its heart, along with a ring road linking all parts of the city to the holy sites through tunnels, bridges, and a shaded pedestrian pathway equipped with full services. As a religious destination that has attracted pilgrims since pre-Islamic times, Makkah is home to the Kaaba—the qibla for Muslims worldwide—Al-Masjid Al-Haram, and the sacred sites. It is also the birthplace of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), where the Holy Qur’an was revealed, and from where the message of Islam began.
Traditional Architecture
The heritage buildings of Makkah Al-Mukarramah are distinguished by a unique architectural style in terms of design, construction methods, and the materials used. Residents of the Hijaz continued to refer to their homes as Hijazi Houses until the 14th century, in celebration of the enduring Islamic architectural heritage, which reached its peak during the 5th Hijri century. These houses were built using Shamisi Stone (Qahhout), recognized for its reddish-yellow hue, ease of use, moisture absorption, and insulation properties. Black clay was used in place of cement, alongside Kashur or Manqabi stones—types of coral limestone—and Takleelah wood, placed horizontally in every wall to reinforce structural stability. The interior of the Hijazi house typically comprised several main sections: the entrance hall (dihliz), the sitting room (majlis), the veranda (suffah), the bedroom, and the storage area (markab).

Population

2,427,924 people

Area

3511 km²

Number of Centers

16 governorates