The Saudi Riwaq (Mataf) has contributed to increasing the Tawaf capacity (circumambulation of the Holy Kaaba) during this year’s Hajj season.
Extending to an area of 210,000 square meters, the four-floor Saudi Riwaq can accommodate 287,000 worshippers and 107,000 pilgrims per hour. It features high-quality services, sound and lighting systems.
The Riwaq extends to the west part of the edifice following extension orders by the late King Fahd bin Abdulaziz when 1500 white marble-covered columns carrying several domes were erected, thus expanding the Riwaq to 365,000 square meters with the capacity to accommodate about 1 million worshipers.
After that extension, the Saudi Riwaq included a new gate named after King Fahd.
The Riwaq grew larger from the northern side under the new expansion project, which started during the reign of the late King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz and was completed during the reign of King Salman bin Abdulaziz.
Under the Mataf expansion project, the area of the Grand Mosque grew to 1 million square meters, accommodating around 2 million worshippers.
Several columns were erected by the new expansion project to the Grand Mosque in addition to a new gate named after King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz.
Masjid al-Haram, also called the Grand Mosque being the largest mosque in the world, witnessed several expansion projects, including the Saudi Riwaq.
The expansion projects in the Grand Mosque began when Saudi King Abdulaziz began the initiative in 1955. He ordered the expansion of the Grand Mosque to accommodate the increasing number of pilgrims.
The building’s expansion continued during the eras of kings Saud, Faisal, and Khalid. It was in its completion phase during the reigns of kings Fahd and Abdullah as well as King Salman.
The Founder found a need to build a new “Saudi Riwaq” encompassing the Mataf expansion project behind the Abbasid courtyard and surrounding the Holy Kaaba’s courtyard.
The Saudi Riwaq is considered one of the prides of Saudi Arabia and an architectural success to the Grand Mosque.
