Continuous efforts to serve the guests of God
In its tireless pursuit of providing the highest quality services to pilgrims, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, has harnessed the latest global operational technologies to ensure a safe and comfortable worship environment for millions of visitors to the Grand Mosque in Mecca and the Prophet's Mosque in Medina. The cooling and lighting systems stand out as among the world's largest engineering and technological projects, managed around the clock by intelligent systems powered by artificial intelligence to guarantee efficiency and sustainability.
Historical background of expansion projects
Throughout history, and especially during the reign of the Saudi state, the Two Holy Mosques have witnessed some of the largest expansion projects in history. These projects began during the reign of the founding King Abdulaziz Al Saud and continued under his sons, with each expansion aiming to increase capacity and develop infrastructure to accommodate the growing numbers of pilgrims. These expansions, the most recent being the Third Saudi Expansion, formed the foundation upon which these monumental systems were built, designed and integrated with new construction to provide a comprehensive and accessible spiritual experience.
The world's largest cooling system
The air conditioning system at the Grand Mosque in Mecca is one of the largest cooling systems in the world, with a cooling capacity of 155,000 tons. Cooled air is pumped through two main stations, Al-Shamiyah and Ajyad, which regulate the temperature throughout the mosque's corridors and courtyards. To ensure a stable temperature between 22 and 24 degrees Celsius, 77 thermal sensors have been installed to automatically measure and adjust the temperature based on visitor density. The system is also supported by advanced air purification systems with an efficiency of up to 95%, guaranteeing clean and healthy air for worshippers.
At the Prophet's Mosque, a massive central cooling plant, covering an area of 70,000 square meters, is responsible for cooling the air. The plant comprises six central units, each with a capacity of 3,400 tons. This advanced system covers 2,357 columns across the various expansions and operates 550 air conditioning units to ensure maximum air distribution and accommodate the millions of worshippers.
Smart lighting and smooth movement
The lighting systems in the Two Holy Mosques have undergone a significant transformation with the conversion to modern, energy-efficient LED units. The Grand Mosque in Mecca boasts over 120,000 lighting units, while the Prophet's Mosque in Medina is illuminated by 137,000. This vast network is managed by an intelligent system that synchronizes the lighting with prayer times, automatically adjusting its intensity to provide visual comfort and promote tranquility and devotion. Indirect lighting technologies have also been employed to prevent glare. To facilitate the smooth flow of crowds, the operational system includes a sophisticated network of 400 escalators and 54 elevators, all subject to rigorous preventative maintenance programs to ensure seamless movement between floors and facilities.
Global importance and impact
The importance of these projects extends beyond the local level to encompass the entire Muslim world. Nationally, these systems reflect the Kingdom's technological and engineering capabilities and underscore its commitment to serving the Two Holy Mosques, aligning with the goals of Vision 2030 to enhance the Hajj and Umrah experience. Internationally, they set a global standard in managing massive religious facilities and directly and positively impact millions of Muslims from around the world, reinforcing the Kingdom's position as the heart of the Islamic world. These efforts culminate in state-of-the-art central control rooms that monitor data in real time and utilize intelligent software to predict malfunctions before they occur, ensuring resource sustainability and the peace of mind of pilgrims.
