JEDDAH, 22 February — Eleven residential towers consisting of 942 flats and a five-star hotel with 1,220 rooms will be constructed on the site of a historic fort in Makkah. The new building will become the property of the Grand Mosque. This was announced by Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Matroudi, deputy minister for endowment affairs.
Dr. Matroudi said the revenues from the property would be used for the mosque's maintenance and development. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd on Tuesday approved the move to establish an endowment project on the site of the Ajyad Fort. The site is valued at SR2 billion.
The new project will cover a total area of 297,000 square meters. The 11 residential towers will have 17 to 32 floors containing 942 flats of varying sizes. The project will also include a two-story shopping center and parking for 1,600 cars. Real estate sources said the project could be completed within 48 months.
The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Propagation and Guidance has taken a new strategy to develop endowment properties in various parts of the Kingdom by constructing shopping centers and residential complexes. The ministry has offered rewards equalling five percent of the property to those who help identify unknown endowments.
Asked whether there was any plan to establish similar endowment projects in Madinah, Al-Matroudi said: "At present, the focus is on the Makkah project. We will invest the endowment property for the service of the Haram Mosque and spend the revenues for cleaning and other related purposes." He hinted, however, at the possibility of implementing a similar project in Madinah for the Prophet's Mosque.
The Ajyad Fort was built in 1196 H by the ruler of Makkah at that time, Ghalib ibn Musaed. Historians believe that it was built out of fear of attack from a tribe in Taif who were his enemies. The fort has played an important role in the protection of Makkah over the years. It was repaired and rebuilt by Othman Tori Pasha in 1302H to accommodate a battalion of 800 men. There were rooms for artillery forces and warehouses for weapons. It has been a well-known historical monument in Makkah since its construction. It is located in a strategic place on the Bulbul mountain close to the Haram Mosque. Soldiers have been stationed there for some 150 years to defend Makkah and guarantee its security.
