The Clock Towers

Abraj Al-Bait Towers
Abraj Al-Bait Towers
	Artist's conception of the tower
General information
Location	Mecca, Saudi Arabia
Estimated completion	2009
Height
Antenna spire	595 m (1,952 ft)
Technical details
Floor count	76
Design and construction
Architect(s)	Dar Al-Handasah Architects

The Abraj Al-Bait Towers also known as the "Mecca Royal Clock Hotel Tower" is a complex under construction in Mecca, Saudi Arabia by the Saudi Binladin Group. Upon completion, the tallest tower in the complex would stand as the tallest building in Saudi Arabia, tallest and largest hotel in the world, with a planned height of 595 m (1,952 ft). Upon completion, the structure would have the largest floor area of any structure in the world with 1,500,000 square metres (16,137,600 sq ft) of floorspace. This is the same as Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport, in the United Arab Emirates which is the current record holder. It will also surpass the Burj al Arab in Dubai as the world's tallest hotel. It is also the second tallest building under construction. The entire project is estimated to be completed in 2009.

The site of the complex is located across the street to the south from an entrance to the Masjid al Haram, which houses the Kaaba, the holiest site in Islam. In order to start construction, the historic Ottoman Ajyad Fortress had to be first completely demolished. To accommodate worshipers who visit the Kaaba, the Abraj Al-Bait Towers will have a large prayer room capable of holding nearly ten thousand people. The tallest tower in the complex will also contain a seven-star hotel to help provide lodging for the over five million pilgrims who travel to Mecca annually to participate in hajj.

In addition, the Abraj Al-Bait Towers will have a four-story shopping mall and a parking garage capable of holding over a thousand vehicles. Residential towers will house permanent residents while two heliports and a conference center are to accommodate business travelers. In total, up to 100,000 people would be housed inside the towers. The project will use clock faces for each side of the Hotel tower. The clocks will be 80 meters high 80 meters wide. They will be located 530 meters high, which would make it the world's highest and largest clock.

Towers

Tower	Height	Floors	Completion	Status
Hotel Tower	Template:M to ft	76	2010	Under construction
Hajar	Template:M to ft	48	2009	Completed
ZamZam	Template:M to ft	48	2007	Completed
Maqam	Template:M to ft	45	2010	Under construction
Qibla	Template:M to ft	45	2010	Under construction
Marwah	Template:M to ft	42	2009	Completed
Safa	Template:M to ft	42	2009	Completed