World’s largest hotel coming to Mecca

Each year, more than 15 million Muslims make the pilgrimage to Mecca, the holiest city in Islam. It makes sense that the city will be home to what is planned to be the largest hotel in the world.

According to Architectural Digest, the Abraj Kudai hotel is designed by consulting firm Dar Al-Handasah. With 10,000 rooms, the hotel will far surpass the current title of world’s largest hotel by room count—the 6,198-room MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

A budget of $3.5 billion is expected to complete the hotel in the Manafia area of Mecca’s central zone, less than two miles from the Masjid al-Haram, Mecca’s holy mosque.

In addition to guest rooms, the 645,830-sf, 12-tower complex will include a shopping center, restaurants, helipads, and a convention center.

Rapid development in Mecca has raised concerns about historical preservation. For example, an Ottoman citadel from the 18th century was demolished to make room for the behemoth Abraj Al Bait Towers, a government-owned megatall building complex.

The Abraj Kudai is scheduled to open in 2017.

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