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Makkah

The original report was published in The Independet on Monday, October 25, 2010
         

King Abdulaziz Endowment (Waqf) for the Two Holy Mosques

A world-class architectural landmark, considered the largest in the world by built-up floor area, the King Abdulaziz Endowment (Waqf) complex consist of seven high-rise towers within walking distance of the Grand Mosque.
This religious endowment is regulated by Islamic Law and was established for the purpose of raising revenue to finance maintenance and the enhancement of the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophets Mosque in Madinah.

Located adjacent to the open spaces of the Grand Mosque in Makkah, the majority of all tower residents and hotel guests can directly see the Haram and some even have full unobstructed views of the Holy Kaaba from within their own rooms, or in many of the praying areas in the different levels of the project.

The seven exclusive residential/commercial towers have distinct design themes, elegantly expressed in both exteriors and interiors that bring a modern interpretation of Arabic culture through Islamic patterns and details.

A clock tower is the landmark feature of the seven-tower complex. The clock is positioned on a 601-metre tower, which will become the second tallest inhabited building in the world when it is completed in a few months.

The Makkah Clock, which is the world's largest, has four faces measuring 43 metres in diameter. It began ticking at the start of the fasting month of Ramadan this year.

Over 90 million pieces of coloured glass mosaic pieces embellish the sides of the clock. Each face will have a large inscription of the name Allah. It is visible from all corners of the city.

PROJECT TEAM:
Director, Idil Demirel; Manager, Elisa López Moriarty; Journalist, Filip Rideau; Consultants, Juan Manuel Sacristán and Fabiana Burbano

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LOCATION:
Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, north of Yemen

AREA:
Total: 2,149,690 sq km
Country comparison to the world: 13
Land: 2,149,690 sq km
Water: 0 sq km

AREA - comparative:
Slightly more than one-fifth the size of the US

CLIMATE:
harsh, dry desert with great temperature extremes

POPULATION:
26,131,703 (July 2011 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 46
Note: includes 5,576,076 non-nationals

CAPITAL:
Name: Riyadh

GDP - composition by sector:
Agriculture: 2.6%
Industry: 61.8%
services: 35.7% (2010 est.)

AGRICULTURE - products:
Wheat, barley, tomatoes, melons, dates, citrus; mutton, chickens, eggs, milk

INDUSTRIES:
Crude oil production, petroleum refining, basic petrochemicals, ammonia, industrial gases, sodium hydroxide (caustic soda), cement, fertilizer, plastics, metals, commercial ship repair, commercial aircraft repair, construction

EXPORTS:
$237.9 billion (2010 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 19
$192.3 billion (2009 est.)

EXPORTS - commodities:
Petroleum and petroleum products 90%

EXPORTS - partners:
Japan 15.4%, China 12.5%, US 12.3%, South Korea 10.4%, India 7.7%, Singapore 4.3% (2009)