Hyderabad, March 27 -- For the first time in 15 years, the skyline of the Grand Mosque in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, is free of construction cranes, marking the near completion of the largest expansion in its history.

The third Saudi expansion, launched in June 2010, has significantly increased the mosque's capacity to accommodate millions of worshippers, ensuring a smoother pilgrimage experience.

Major milestone in the Grand Mosque's expansion

The removal of cranes signals the end of a crucial construction phase, with over 95 percent of the expansion completed. The project aims to increase the mosque's capacity from 670,000 to more than 1.28 million worshippers, providing enhanced facilities and infrastructure.

Photo: SPA

Saad Al-Qurashi...