Makkah Clock Tower set to open soon
A view of the clock tower being built as part of the King Abdul Aziz Endowment Project near the Grand Mosque in Makkah. (AN photo by Badea Abu Al-Naja)
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.
Mohammed Abbasi 
I find this tower so ugly, disproportion, dont even met the surrounding, Heavy bulky, look at the size of the creasent on top and the size of word Allah, nothing flows together, just big , fat and ugly like the kings.
Its built on a historic site they demolish the old historic fort to built this tower, It reflect the wealth of a king dropping a shadow on the most holy place, …………..
saudi arabia works for exactly like evil. they build towers just next to kaaba which will make big insult to kaaba. what kind of people will stay those hotels which surround kaaba. muslim people face kaaba to pray their daily prayer,what will be happening in those hotel rooms? what an ugly behavior. this indicates sign of hour is so near by building there clock tower. may allah save that place from those fat kings. Because of those people i think i will stop facing kaaba when i pray
A folly that will shadow the holy of holies, in more than just the physical sense. Perhaps the close relationship between the al-Sauds and US administration has resulted in ‘Disney’fication of the holy city. With lift rides and Golden Floors this will cater to the well heeled, sipping their bespoke chocolate truffles (Fairtrade? I doubt it!) after seven circles of the Kaaba; or having their feet massaged after the long walk between Safa and Marwa. What will they know of the hardship of the poor farmer from Mauritania who spent his life saving and endured such hardship to perform this fifth pillar of Islam?
The Haj pilgrimage suppose to a time of self reflection, solidarity with muslims from all walks of life, not to gawp at this bad-taste monstrosity.
islamik best photo send my id.
actualy im surprized from tht critic comments , i found the tower gorgeous & the clock adorable , all tht renovations happened @ alharam alsharief is necessary & show the whole world how saudi arabians are cevelaized & smart not just a fat wealthy nerds in white silk customs throughing dozens of dollars on naked bally dancers , a personal salute for the king on such a modern adorable buildings & tower..
first try to learn the meaning of gorgeous then write ….. this is just an ugly tower