Abraj al-Bayt Skyscraper (Clock in Mecca)
Abraj al-Bayt is a complex of modern skyscrapers built in Mecca. It is the largest structure in the world by mass, as well as the tallest structure in Saudi Arabia and the third tallest building in the world after the Burj Khalifa and the Shanghai Tower. Abraj al-Bayt owes this title to the 601-meter high Makkah Clock Royal Tower, the tallest hotel in the world, located on its grounds.
Video: Makkah Clock
General Information
The skyscraper complex is part of King Abul-Aziz’s project to plan the city. In order to build Abraj al-Bayt, the Ajyad Fortress had to be demolished. Construction lasted from 2004 to 2012, during which time 7 skyscrapers were built, each bearing a name given in honor of different persons, places and terms from Islamic history – the Royal Clock Tower, Hajar, Zamzam, Maqam, Qibla, Safa, Marwa. The Abraj Al Beit Towers have a four-story shopping arcade and a parking garage for more than 800 cars. The residential towers house apartments for permanent residents, while two helipads and a conference center cater to business travelers.
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At the top of the tallest Royal Tower is a huge clock with a diameter of 43 meters (the hour hand is 17 meters long and the minute hand is 22 meters long), located more than 400 meters above the ground. Their four dials are set on the 4 sides of the world. The clock giants are visible from anywhere in the city, and are the largest and highest clock in the world. In appearance, the clock tower remotely resembles Big Ben in London, only it is 6 times taller..The Abraj al-Bayt Towers are the most prominent buildings in Mecca, not only because of their height, but also because of their location. They are opposite the entrance to the al-Haram Mosque, whose courtyard houses the Kaaba, the main shrine of Islam. The tallest tower in the complex, which serves as a hotel, is designed to provide accommodation for about 100,000 of the more than 5 million pilgrims who visit Mecca each year to participate in the hajj.
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