MAKKAH: Al-Aziziyah district is popular with pilgrims and Haj missions because it is close to both the Holy Sites and the Grand Mosque.
The area, southeast of Makkah, directly overlooks Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah and is also close to the Jamrat area where pilgrims throw pebbles. Al-Aziziyah is also linked to the Haram’s central area through a network of roads.
The acquisition of over 1,200 buildings in the Shamiyyah district for the expansion of the nearby Grand Mosque’s northern plazas, made pilgrims seek accommodation in Al-Aziziyah.
The district is only 1 km away from the Holy Sites and 15 minutes drive to the Holy Mosque.
The district is complete with shops, restaurants, pharmacies and other amenities.
It is one of Makkah’s most famous districts, while Al-Aziziyah Street is one of the holy city’s main roads. It has a special pavement for pedestrians going to Mina. Al-Aziziyah district not only links the Grand Mosque and the Holy Sites but also provides a link to the third ring-road, leading to the express ways for Jeddah and Taif.
The new SR180 million Al-Aziziyah tunnel, which opened last year, has two lanes leading to Mina, the third ring-road and King Khaled Road, greatly easing traffic in the district during the Haj season.
The district also has Bindawood supermarket on the road that lead to the Holy Sites. Studies are currently under way for a new project linking Al-Aziziyah district directly to the fourth level of the Jamrat bridge.
Accommodation for a pilgrim in Al-Aziziyah during the Haj period costs between SR2,000 and 2,500, compared to other areas of Makkah where it is between SR1,500 and 1,750.
The choice of accommodation is left to the Haj mission of each country. They usually choose areas that are close to the Grand Mosque.
