Jakarta, ThedailyID — Saudi Arabia is expanding Masjid al-Haram as part of a long-term plan to accommodate up to 5 million Hajj pilgrims annually by 2030, a major pillar of the kingdom’s broader Vision 2030 strategy.
The expansion aims to increase capacity at Islam’s holiest site as Saudi Arabia prepares for rising pilgrimage demand in the coming years. Officials said the project includes upgrades to prayer areas, pedestrian flow, transport access, and supporting infrastructure around the Grand Mosque.
Saudi authorities have linked the expansion to efforts to improve safety, reduce congestion, and improve the pilgrimage experience for millions of worshippers.
The project forms part of a broader transformation under Saudi Vision 2030, which seeks to expand religious tourism and boost the kingdom’s infrastructure. Authorities aim to raise Hajj and Umrah capacity significantly by the end of the decade, with the Grand Mosque at the center of that plan.
The expansion also includes improvements to surrounding transport systems, including high-speed rail links, crowd management systems, and upgraded services for pilgrims arriving in Mecca.
Saudi officials have said the project will help support smoother pilgrim movement during peak rituals, particularly during tawaf around the Kaaba and movement between holy sites.
Masjid al-Haram has undergone several major expansions over decades, but this phase ranks among the kingdom’s most ambitious as it aligns religious infrastructure with long-term national development goals.
Officials say the five million pilgrim target would mark a major jump from current Hajj volumes and reflect Saudi Arabia’s push to accommodate growing global demand for pilgrimage.
The project is expected to continue in phases through 2030 as the kingdom scales up one of the largest religious infrastructure expansions in the world.
