The first phase of the historic expansion of Saudi Arabia's Grand Mosque in Makkah has opened in time to accommodate 400 thousand more worshippers this Ramadan, according to Arab News. Three floors of a newly constructed annex have been completed, as well as the northern, southern and western plazas of the mosque. The annex had been decorated with chandeliers and air-conditioning and water fountains had been installed for visitors. There are telephones for visitors to make inquiries about matters related to Umrah or other religious issues. Zamzam water taps have been installed in open plazas to supply cold water to visitors. The new annex's escalators have begun operating to facilitate movement of pilgrims and worshippers to upper floors. Saudi Arabian King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz laid the foundation stone for the historic expansion project of the Grand Mosque on August 19, 2011. Now the Grand Mosque, Islam's holiest site, is undergoing its largest ever expansion, worth US$ 21.3 billion, to increase its capacity to 2 million pilgrims. The entire expansion is expected to take several years.

As reported by Arab news, on August 19 Saudi Arabian King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz laid the foundation stone for the historic expansion project of the Grand Mosque, which covers 400 thousand square meters northwest and northeast of the mosque, and will increase its total capacity to more than 2.5 million. According to informed sources, the total area of the existing Grand Mosque is 356 thousand square meters accommodating 770 thousand worshippers, while the new expansion covering an area of 456 thousand square meters will accommodate 1.2 million. The new US$ 21.8 million project will comprise three parts: construction of a new building, expansion and development of courtyards around the mosque, including walkways, tunnels and toilets, and development of service facilities for air-conditioning, electricity and drinking water. A number of new multistoried hotels will establish at the end of the courtyards of the new expansion. Vast pathways will be created between the building for pilgrims and worshippers to reach the mosque. Al-Masjid al-Haram is the largest mosque in the world. Located in the city of Makkah, it surrounds the Kaaba, the place which worldwide Muslims turn towards while performing daily prayers and is Islam's holiest place. The mosque is also known as the Grand Mosque.