The Second Saudi Expansion of the Prophet's Mosque

The second Saudi expansion of the Prophet's Noble Mosque refers to the geographical and architectural enhancements directed by King Fahd Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. As a result, its capacity for worshipers increased from 167,000 to one million during peak times.

On November 2, 1984, King Fahd Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud laid the foundation stone for the second Saudi expansion of the Prophet's Mosque. The expansion was completed in 1993.

The expansion covered the eastern, western, and northern sides of the mosque, adding an area of eighty-two thousand m that can accommodate around 150,000 worshipers. As a result, the total area of the mosque was 98,326 m, accommodating 178,000 worshipers. The rooftop area adds another sixty-seven thousand m, of which 58,250 m are prepared for prayers, accommodating ninety thousand worshipers. This effectively doubled the size of the Prophet's Mosque from 16,326 m to 165,000 m, of which 156,576 m is prepared for prayers and can accommodate 268,000 worshipers. Additionally, there is an external courtyard area surrounding the mosque, which spans 135,000 m.

The car parking facilities at the Prophet's Mosque have contributed to the comfort of worshipers and their quick access to the mosque. They include various services such as amenities, restrooms, escalators, and elevators, being located underneath the courtyards of the Prophet's Mosque. Car parking is distributed around the four sides of the Prophet's Mosque. They have five entrances and exits. The total area allocated for parking is approximately 199,000 m. It includes twenty-four parking units, eight of which are for subscribers and sixteen for instant payment. Each unit can accommodate about 184 cars. There are also forty-eight self-accounting devices.

The height of the ground floor in the expansion is 12.55 m, while the basement, which is intended for services, is four m high. The ground floor has 2,028 columns covered in marble, each adorned with copper crowns containing sound speakers. Each column sits on a marble base that features copper air-conditioning vents. These columns are spaced six m or eighteen m apart, forming harmonious corridors and internal aisles and creating a sense of coherence, offering a majestic aesthetic view inspired by the essence of Islamic architecture.

The expansion works include the construction of a lower floor (basement) with the same area as the ground floor of the expansion to accommodate air conditioning and cooling equipment and other services. The project also includes surrounding the Prophet's Mosque with courtyards covering an area of twenty-three thousand m. Their floors are covered with marble and granite in various beautiful Islamic geometric patterns, of which 135,000 m have been designated for prayer, accommodating 250,000 worshipers.

The expansion building is equipped with twenty-seven retractable domes, each with a diameter of eighteen m and weighing eighty t, covering an area of 323 m. These domes can slide on iron tracks installed on the expansion's rooftop. They can be opened and closed via remote control and are utilized to provide natural ventilation during suitable weather conditions. The design of the domes aligns with the latest construction techniques and the finest architectural styles, giving the new expansion building a beautiful aesthetic. It also ensures harmony and coherence with the original mosque structure. Additionally, the rooftop has been prepared in a manner that allows the construction of another floor above the expansion if deemed necessary in the future.

The expansion was allocated seven main gates situated on the northern, eastern, and western sides. Each main entrance has five adjacent doors, in addition to two side gates. There are two main entrances on the southern side of the expansion, with each of them containing three adjacent gates. In addition to these, there are ten side doors and twelve gates for escalators leading to the expansion's rooftop. It should be noted that the total number of external wooden doors for the expansion is 142, of which sixty-five are large doors. Furthermore, there are 18 staircases and six buildings dedicated to escalators, hosting a total of twenty-four escalators.

In the center of the northern side of the expansion lies the King Fahd Bin Abdulaziz Gate, which is the main entrance to the expansion. This entrance is surmounted by seven domes, and on each side, there's a minaret with a height of approximately 105 m. The total number of minarets in the Prophet's Mosque, including the expansion, is ten, six of which are new. Each of these new minarets has a height of approximately 105 m, with an increase of around thirty-three m compared to the minarets in the first Saudi expansion. These minarets are distributed across the four corners of the expansion, with two minarets on each side of the main entrance.

After the death of King Fahd Bin Abdulaziz, King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud completed some of the remaining expansion works in the courtyards of the Prophet's Mosque, as 250 electric umbrellas were added to it, and they were supported by 436 mist fans, which help humidify the environment and reduce the heat.

He also oversaw the implementation of the eastern courtyard, with an area reaching thirty-seven thousand m, before directing the commencement of the third Saudi expansion works in 2012.

During the reign of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi care and attention for the Two Holy Mosques continued, including King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud's directive to complete the third Saudi expansion of the Holy Mosque in Makkah al-Mukarramah and the Prophet's Mosque in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah, where he launched many projects.

The Prophet's Mosque includes 229 internal and external gates, 196 domes, both fixed and movable, ten minarets, 10,496 Quran-holder chairs, 262 umbrellas in the courtyard and inside, and 436 mist fans.