"We are currently at the stage of studying Shariah rules that will help us to determine whether to permit or ban the establishment of sports facilities for women in Makkah," Zaki Hariri, the director responsible for beautification and parks at the local municipality, told Arab News on Monday. He said after completion of the study, the municipality would be able to decide whether to allocate specific days in men’s sports clubs just for women or set up exclusive facilities for them.

He added that the municipality was planning to open two new sports clubs in the Al-Rusaifah and Al-Khalidiyah districts, bringing the total number of clubs in the locality to five.

Hariri said work was also ongoing on three new facilities in the districts of Al-Nuriyah, Al-Naseem and Al-Sharia. He said construction would be completed within eight months. “Each club occupies an area of not less than 10,000 square meters and will serve its districts and other nearby areas,” Hariri said.

He said the Ministry of Rural and Municipal Affairs had built all the sports clubs in Makkah and added that the private sector would be given the opportunity to operate them after construction was completed.

According to latest statistics, Makkah has 226,300 trees and plants, including 14,260 palm trees.

The holy city also has over one million square meters worth of green area, in addition to 193 public parks.

There are also 170 parks for children.