Clock Tower

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Construction of the complex began after the controversial demolition of the Ajyad Fortress in 2002. This 18th-century Ottoman citadel was removed by the Saudi government to make way for the modern development, sparking an outcry and strong reactions from Turkey. The project cost a total of US$15 billion and was executed by the Kingdom's largest construction company, the Saudi Binladin Group. While non-Muslim workers were generally barred from entering Mecca, some specialists from Poland and Germany converted to Islam specifically to work on the site. The building plan saw its height adjusted significantly; initially slated for 734 meters in 2006, the final height was published as 601 meters in 2009. The complex now houses the world's second most expensive building.

In Their Own Story

The central tower, the Mecca Royal Clock Tower, dominates the skyline as the fourth-tallest building and sixth-tallest freestanding structure globally. Its clock faces, measuring 43 meters by 43 meters, are the largest in the world, illuminated by 2 million LED lights. The top four floors of this central tower contain the Clock Tower Museum, while an astronomy exhibition sits behind the dials. Above the clock, a spire reaches 601 meters, topped by a crescent constructed in Dubai in April 2011. This 35-tonne fiberglass-backed mosaic gold structure took three months to build and houses prayer rooms and service floors. At its base, known as 'The Jewel,' is a scientific center used to sight the moon for Islamic months and operate an atomic clock. Despite rumors of setting time to a new global meridian, the tower operates on Arabia Standard Time (UTC+03:00).

Reader's Guide

Visitors can access the Clock Tower Museum located in the top four floors of the central hotel tower. The complex includes a five-story shopping mall and a parking garage holding over a thousand vehicles. The tallest tower also features a five-star Fairmont Hotel to accommodate pilgrims. For those interested in construction history, note that the façade was built by Premiere Composite Technologies, while German manufacturer PERROT GmbH & Co. KG Turmuhren und Läuteanlagen supplied the clock mechanism. During the complex's development, two fires occurred: one on October 28, 2008, at Hajar Tower which burned nine floors for ten hours, and another on May 1, 2009, at Safa Tower affecting floors 14 through 20. Both incidents resulted in no reported injuries.

Did You Know?

• The clock faces are the largest in the world, measuring 43 meters by 43 meters.
• Specialists from Poland and Germany converted to Islam to be allowed to visit the construction site in Mecca.
• The crescent on top of the spire weighs 35 tonnes and was constructed in Dubai in April 2011.
• Strong lasers from the tower can throw rays 30 kilometers into the sky during special occasions.
• The complex cost US$15 billion to build, making it the world's second most expensive building.