Makkah, September 26, 2024, The Saudi Portico, also known as the Saudi Riwaq, is a notable architectural addition to Makkah's Grand Mosque, symbolizing a significant advancement for this revered site. The portico features vertical arches aligned with the Qiblah wall, adorned with rows of pillars that intersect parallel and perpendicular to the Qiblah.
According to the General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque, the Saudi Riwaq is one of the world's largest structures in terms of size and capacity. Covering 210,000 square meters, it can accommodate over 107,000 worshippers performing tawaf per hour, and more than 278,000 worshippers performing prayers.
The portico is paved with some of the finest marble available, and it is decorated with beautiful chandeliers, marble pillars, and colorful ceilings.
The Saudi Riwaq is a testament to Saudi Arabia's architectural achievements for the Grand Mosque, serving as this sacred site's unique and enduring feature. It mirrors the consistent dedication of Saudi leaders to the architecture legacy of the two holy mosques since the First Saudi State and continuing under the reign of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.