GREAT EFFORT FROM MAKKAH: MAKKAH CLOCK ROYAL TOWER

The finest luxury in the Holy City.
Fairmont Makkah
Pre-Opening Address
Makkah Clock Royal Tower A Fairmont Hotel
c/o Othman bin Abila 'as Street
P.O. Box 122448
Jeddah 21332
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Tel: 00966 2 6030062
Fax: 00966 2 6030064
e-mail makkah@fairmont.com

Makkah Clock Royal Tower, A Fairmont Hotel will be the focal point of the iconic Abraj Al Bait Complex, part of the King Abdul Aziz Endowment Project whose mandate is to upgrade the precincts of the Two Holy Mosques. The hotel will feature 858 elegantly appointed guest rooms and Fairmont Gold, an exclusive ‘hotel within a hotel’ product. At 577 meters high, this 76 storey hotel will be among the world's tallest structures and its unique and distinctive features will ensure a landmark presence in the Holy City. This includes a 40 meter clock, visible from 17 kilometers away, which will announce daily prayers to the Muslim world, while the Lunar Observation Center and Islamic Museum will serve to protect the heritage for future generations.



By BADEA ABU AL-NAJA | ARAB NEWS

Published: Jun 13, 2010 00:02 Updated: Jun 13, 2010 00:05

MAKKAH: The Makkah Clock Tower, which is being built on the instructions of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, is scheduled to be inaugurated shortly.

The tower, designed by a leading German company, on completion will be the tallest in the world. It can be viewed from a distance of seven kilometers.

The clock will stand 402 meters tall on the fifth tower of the King Abdul Aziz Endowment Project facing the Grand Mosque. The tower housing the clock is being built in a peculiar Islamic style of architecture.

The clock will have four faces — one in each direction. Two of the clocks will be 80 meters tall, 65meters wide and 39meters in diameter. The name of Allah will be inscribed on each of the four clock faces.

The other two clocks will be 65 meters tall, 43 meters wide and 25 meters in diameter.

Two lifts will carry visitors to a five-meter balcony below the clocks. The landmark edifice will also carry intricate Islamic decorative artwork.

On completion the tower will be the tallest in the world — taller than the Warsaw Palace of Culture and Science in Poland’s capital city, London’s Big Ben, Rajabai Clock Tower in Mumbai and the Allen-Bradley Clock Tower in Milwaukee, US.

Makkah Clock Tower to be inaugurated
By Timon Singh | 06/14/10 - 13:22

The Makkah Clock Tower

MENA Infrastructure last year reported on the Makkah Clock Tower Royal Hotel that, once it is finished, will be the tallest clock tower in the world. That time is getting closer and closer as it was announced that in the coming weeks, Makkah Clock Tower is to be inaugurated.

The Makkah Clock Tower Royal Hotel is part of the seven tower Abraj Al-Bait Complex, that is being constructed opposite the Grand Mosque of Mecca. When we reported the story last year, there were concerns that the super-luxurious hotel would 'cheapen' the Hajj, considering that the fifth pillar of Islam is meant to be about hardship, struggle and sacrifice.

Once it is finished, the tower will stand 402 metres tall and will be seen from up to seven kilometres away. It will boast the world's largest clock (4.7 times larger than Big Ben) on each side, and will be among the world's second tallest tower. Two of the clocks will be 80 meters tall, 65 meters wide and 39 meters in diameter. The other two clocks will be 65 meters tall, 43 meters wide and 25 meters in diameter.

The entire complex is rumoured to cost USD$3 billion and the hotel is said to feature 24-hour butler service, segregated gyms, beauty parlours, grooming salons, a spa and a chocolate room where chefs will prepare bespoke pralines and truffles.

The hotel will be managed by Fairmont Hotels who are keen to make the hotel the most luxurious hotel in the Holy City. Mohammed Arkobi, the hotel's manager, said the hotel will be at the centre of the seven tower complex located opposite the Grand Mosque, the holiest site in Islam, occupying a space equal to 15.6 million square feet. The hotel will have 76 elevators and 1,005 guest rooms and suites. It will have five "Royal" floors and two "Golden floors", the latter referring to Fairmont Gold, the company's exclusive "hotel within a hotel".

On completion the tower will be the second tallest in the world - taller than the Warsaw Palace of Culture and Science in Poland's capital city, London's Big Ben, Rajabai Clock Tower in Mumbai and the Allen-Bradley Clock Tower in Milwaukee, US.

Almost 60% disagree 'Makkah Time' will become standard
by Elsa BaxterThis email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it on Monday, 16 August 2010
SAUDI CLOCK: The Makkah clock tower was launched at the start of Ramadan in the Saudi holy city. (Getty Images)
SAUDI CLOCK: The Makkah clock tower was launched at the start of Ramadan in the Saudi holy city. (Getty Images)

Almost 60 percent of people who took part in the latest Arabian Business poll disagree that ‘Makkah Time’ will eventually replace Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

According to the online poll, 57.7 percent of respondents said GMT was the tried and tested international standard and would not be replaced.

Saudi Arabia has ambitions that its new clock tower in Makkah could establish the city as an alternative to GMT for the world’s Muslims.

The clock, which sits more than 400m over the Holy Haram courtyard of Islams holiest cities, was unveiled last week at the start of Ramadan. It has four faces, each more than 46m across, and sits on the world’s second highest building.

Related: IN PICS: The world's largest clock unveiled in Saudi
Related: Saudi Arabia seeks Muslim alternative to GMT
Story continues below ↓
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The AB poll found some 15.5 percent of people supported the kingdom’s bid saying all Muslims across the world would change their watches to the Saudi clock tower’s time.

A further 8.4 percent said Makkah Time will take over as the time standard only in the Middle East. While 19.1 percent said it may be accepted in all Muslim countries, but would never fully replace GMT.