Why Abraj Al Bait Is a Must-Visit Place in Saudi Arabia
When it comes to the most important country in the world for the Muslim religion, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a unanimous answer given by most people. This is because of the massive significance that Saudi Arabia holds in the Muslim Culture. The city of Mecca is considered to be the birthplace of the Muslim Religion.
Because of this, for every Muslim around the world, it is mandatory to go on Umrah during the last month of the Muslim calendar. Umrah is a pilgrimage to Mecca that is done under the belief that it brings a human closer to Allah (the god of the Muslim religion). Due to this, Saudi Arabia started to receive visitors in millions each year which made it difficult to care for them.
To accommodate the mass number of people that visit Saudi Arabia each year for this purpose, the government of Saudi Arabia created the Abraj Al Bait. This is one of the most fascinating places in all of Saudi Arabia. So, let us take a look at why Abraj Al-Bait is a must-visit place in Saudi Arabia.
Brief Overview of Abraj Al Bait
Abraj Al Bait is located in the city of Mecca just 300 meters away from the Great Mosque which is the primary destination for Umrah Pilgrims. This is a giant complex covering a space of 1,500,000 m2 that has both traditional Saudi Arabian Architecture and modern architecture to provide a comfortable place for the millions of pilgrims who make their way to Mecca.
This makes Abraj Al Bait the largest complex in the world. Abraj Al Bait contains 7 towers with each one of them having a luxury hotel to house the people coming for the Umrah pilgrimage. Other than these hotels, there are also shopping malls, museums, restaurants, apartments, and a clean space for Muslim worshippers to offer their prayers.
Each of the 7 towers of this place stands on a 115-meter-tall podium and is named after names that reference Mecca itself or the Kuran which is the holy book of the Muslim religion containing the teachings of Prophet Mohammad.
The seven towers that are present within Abraj Al Bait are mentioned below:
Hajar
This is a 279-meter tall tower that has 58 floors and is the location of the Mövenpick Hotel & Residences. In the Muslim religion along with Christianity and Judaism, Hajr is the mother of the prophet Ishmael.
Zamzam
Just like the Hajar Tower, the Zamzam Tower also stands at around 279 meters in height and has 58 floors. However, this tower is the location of the Pullman ZamZam Makkah Hotel. The name Zamzam is the name of the sacred well which in Muslim religion is said to be the emerging spot of the holy water.
Maqam Ibrahim
Despite being a shorter tower in height than Zamzam and Hajar, the Maqam Ibrahim, which is 232 meters tall, has 61 floors. The Swissôtel al Maqam Makkah Hotel is located here.
Maqam Ibrahim is the name of a rock, which Muslim followers believe to contain the footprints of the prophet Abraham and was used in the construction of the Great Mosque in Mecca.
Qibla
Qibla is similar to Maqam Ibrahim being 232 meters tall and containing 61 floors, however, it is the location of the Swissôtel Makkah Hotel. Qibla is the name of the direction which faces towards the city of Mecca. This direction is important since all prayers in the Muslim religion must be performed while facing toward Mecca.
Safa
This is tied with the Marwah tower for being the smallest tower in the Abraj Al Bait complex, standing only 220 meters tall. It contains 46 floors and houses the Raffles Makkah Palace Hotel. Safa is the name of one of the hills on which the Great Mosque of Mecca is situated.
Marwah
Marwah Tower is an almost similar-looking tower to Safa Tower, sharing the same height of 220 meters and containing 46 floors. This tower, however, is the location of the Al Marwa Rayhaan by Rotana- Makkah Hotel.
Makkah Royal Clock Tower
Being the tallest of all the 7 towers of Abraj Al Bait, the Makkah Royal Clock Tower stands at a height of 601 meters. This tower is located at the center of the complex and is the 3rd tallest skyscraper in the world only behind the Shanghai Tower and the famous Burj Khalifa.
The architecture of this tower as its name suggests resembles a Clock tower with a clock on each of its 4 sides. This makes it resemble the Big Ben which is one of London's biggest attractions, the major difference being that the clocks of this tower are approximately 35 times bigger than the clock of the Big Ben.
Top Things to Do Around Abraj Al Bait
Here is a list of the top things to do in Abrah Al Bait for an exciting holiday experience, find out now:
Observe the Makkah Royal Clock Tower's Night Light Show
The Makkah Royal Clock Tower has been fitted with several laser emitters that during special events are used to create a marvelous light show for the people to enjoy along with some nice music that directly affects the rhythm of the lights, making for an immersive and spectacular show for the enjoyment of all visitors.
Enjoy the Saudi Arabian Cuisines at the Clock Tower Viewing Deck
There is a restaurant at the Clock Tower of Abraj Al Bait that offers an excellent view of the city of Mecca including the Great Mosque. You can observe all the different shopping centers and streets up here while enjoying some of the best cuisines of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Relax with the Ultimate Spa Experience
All of the luxury hotels located within the 7 towers of Abraj Al Bait offer some of the most luxurious spa experiences in all of Saudi Arabia. These spa facilities offer a ton of services including massages, facials, and even Saudi Arabia's traditional hammam treatment.
These ensure that you get the best period of relaxation after your spiritually enlightening journey through the Umrah pilgrimage or your adventures through the deserts of Saudi Arabia.
Pickup Traditional Trinkets at the Abraj Al Bait Mall
If you are a tourist looking for a premium shopping experience in Saudi Arabia, the Abraj Al Bait Mall is the best place to visit. Located within the Makkah Royal Clock Tower, this shopping complex is full of retail stores, offering a wide range of products ranging from electronics to fashion and from luxury brands to traditional trinkets and garments.
Best of all, the mall is also home to several restaurants that offer excellent cuisines and resting places for you to stay active during your shopping spree.
Saudi Arabia is the single most important country in the Muslim culture. This country is the birthplace of the Muslim religion and the city of Mecca is considered to be the holiest place in the entire world for the Muslim religion. The pilgrimage of Umrah is a major part of the Muslim religion as it is mandatory for every Muslim follower at least once in their lives.
Because of this, the city of Mecca receives millions of Muslim followers each year that visit the Great Mosque located in the city of Mecca and the primary location of the Umrah pilgrimage. To support these pilgrims journey towards their religious duty, the government of Saudi Arabia created the complex of Abraj Al Bait.
So, if you wish to visit Abraj Al Bait, start by applying for your Saudi Arabia tourist visa and book all your reservations within Abraj Al Bait as soon as possible.
Check your eligibility for Saudi e-Visa and apply for Online Saudi Visa 72 hours in advance of your flight. Swedish citizens, Panamanian citizens, Swiss Citizens, Spanish Citizens and Dutch citizens can apply online for Online Saudi Visa.