Traditionally, Saudi Arabia is not known as a tourist destination. Many Americans view the country as a bit too conservative for a real vacation adventure. However, it doesn’t mean Saudi Arabia doesn’t have places of interest that vacationers would love to visit. Situated on the Arabian Peninsula, the largest country in the Middle East boasts such attractions as the ruins of the Nabatean Kingdom, a powerful political entity that flourished between around 300 BC and 106 AD—and whose fame spread as far as Han-dynasty China.
The mountains of Taif, where roses bloom side by side with world-famous dates; the Edge of the World, an amazing geological wonder near Riyadh; and the Rub' al Khali desert, arguably the world's largest sand desert—are other attractions that make Saudi Arabia worth visiting.
But in this article, we’ll shine the spotlight on Abraj Kudai, a hotel in Mecca poised to become the world’s largest.
Here’s What To Know About Abraj Kudai
At its completion, Abraj Kudai will be the largest hotel in the world. With an expected capacity of 10,000 rooms, the hotel will accommodate more people than some university college campuses. For perspective, the MGM Grand Las Vegas, which currently holds the title as the largest single hotel building in the world, has 6,852 rooms. It means when complete, the rooms in Abraj Kudai will outnumber those in the MGM Grand by more than 3,000 rooms.
The building will also have a ring of 12 neck-straining towers, each of which will be a breathtaking 45 stories high. Ten of the sky-scraping towers will ostensibly provide 4-star level hotel services while the two remaining ones provide premium, 5-star level hotel services. Also, when complete, Abraj Kudai will have a staggering 70 restaurants, more than many city neighborhoods or even towns. In addition, the hotel will have helipads where helicopters and other light aircraft can comfortably land or take off.
Standing just about a mile from the Masjid al-Ḥaram, also known as the Great Mosque of Mecca and the largest mosque in the world, Abraj Kudai will also have a full-size convention center that can host large gatherings, business meetings, or religious convocations.
And on top of its tallest tower, a dome, one of the largest in the world, will be built, significantly adding to its architectural elegance. Naturally, one would be interested to know what inspired the construction of such a stupendous structure.
Here’s The Story Of Abraj Kudai And Why It Was Built
While the city of Mecca receives many tourists the entire year, the highest numbers are traditionally recorded during the Holy Period of Hajj, when over 2.5 million Muslim adherents troop to the city during a pilgrimage considered one of the five pillars of Islam.
The Hajj is a commemoration of the life, struggles, and obedience of Prophet Abraham, who, according to Muslim tradition, built the Kaaba, God’s first house of worship and the focal point of the celebrations. During the Hajj, hotels in Mecca get fully booked, with some pilgrims sleeping out in tents. With this in mind, the government of Saudi Arabia reportedly set out to build Abraj Kudai in order to provide adequate accommodation to the pilgrims.
The whole enterprise is, therefore, a government project. Because of this, both the funding and overall management of the building project are in the hands of the state. Its projected cost is a mind-boggling $3.5 billion. The firm which undertook the challenging task of drawing and designing Abraj Kudai is the Beirut-based consulting firm Dar Al-Handasah, a leading multi-disciplinary consultancy operating across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.
Design of the building's interior and rooms went to London-based firm Areen Hospitality, while for construction, the Saudi government turned to Binladin Group, a construction conglomerate based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Unfortunately, a slump in oil prices and a temporary ban on the Binladin group after its crane fell into the Grand Mosque, killing 107 people, slowed down the project—at one time even putting a temporary stop to the construction efforts.
- Can I see Abraj Kudai? The hotel is not yet fully open though visitors can to Mecca can see it.
Some More Interesting Facts About Abraj Kudai
The building’s podium, on which the 12 towers stand, will be a large complex comprising a ballroom, a bus station, a shopping mall, and of course, several food courts. Framing the blue-mirrored windows of the hotel are pink pilasters, some of which are arched in a style that reflects an Ottoman fashion, albeit hazily and indecisively.
From a distance, Abraj Kudai immediately strikes the onlooker as a desert fortress and will not fail to pique the curiosity and admiration of any passerby. According to some accounts, each room in the building will go for $5,000. When fully complete, Abraj Kudai will be an iconic landmark on Riyadh’s ever-expanding skyline.