Passers-by cannot ignore the shouting of taxi drivers when crossing the streets of Makkah’s Al-Gaza neighborhood, where the expansion operations of the northern yard of the Grand Mosque are being implemented.

The shouts of taxi drivers trying to lure passengers to take them to Taif and Jeddah can be heard among the normal hubbub of people, as they wander alongside the visitors and pilgrims. They block the sidewalks of the streets with their vehicles, trying to find a parking lot in the narrow and congested location. Some of the taxi drivers go as far as Al-Dawareq traffic light on Sitteen Street to find some place to park and pick up passengers.

The taxi parking lots were absorbed in the expansion projects prompting the taxi drivers to voice their concern.

Ahmad Al-Otaibi, a driver, said the parking lots allocated by the competent authorities in the central area were lost now among the giant projects being implemented in Makkah.

“The taxi drivers are now in a bad situation because they cannot find a location to park their vehicles to pick up passengers. They just wander around Makkah streets randomly, mixing with other private-owned cars and expats operating their vehicles as taxis,” he said.

He and his fellow drivers appealed to the authorities to allocate suitable locations where they can park their cars.