Saudi Arabia’s Mecca Clock Royal Tower, the tallest clock tower globally, blends luxury, innovation, and history, enhancing the pilgrim experience in Mecca.
The structure is a part of the larger Clock Towers complex, which is owned by the government of Saudi Arabia. This complex house seven skyscraper hotels in the heart of Mecca, aiming to significantly enhance the experience of the millions of Muslim pilgrims who visit the city each year. Situated a mere 300 meters from the Great Mosque of Mecca, the world’s largest mosque and Islam’s holiest site, the tower holds a prime location for both religious and commercial purposes.
The vision for the Clock Towers complex began in 2002, with the Saudi government looking to modernize and improve the facilities available for the influx of pilgrims visiting Mecca, especially during the Hajj season. However, the construction of the tower required the demolition of the historic Ajyad Fortress, an 18th-century Ottoman citadel that had stood on the hill overlooking the Great Mosque. The decision to raze the fortress sparked an international outcry, especially from Turkey, as the fortress had significant historical value.
Despite the controversy surrounding its destruction, the project proceeded, and the Mecca Clock Royal Tower officially opened in 2012. At the time, it became the tallest building in Saudi Arabia, standing at an impressive 601 meters. To put this into perspective, Big Ben, the iconic clock tower of London, stands at a comparatively modest 96 meters.
The £11.3 billion investment in the project was not limited to the construction of the tower itself. The entire Clock Towers complex houses a state-of-the-art five-star hotel, offering luxurious accommodations for visitors from around the world. It also features a sprawling five-storey shopping mall, complete with high-end retail outlets and restaurants catering to the needs of its wealthy clientele. For convenience, the complex is equipped with a car park that can accommodate over 1,000 vehicles, making it easy for guests and visitors to access the tower and its surrounding facilities.
One of the most striking features of the Mecca Clock Royal Tower is the clock itself. Each of the tower’s four sides features a massive clock face, each standing 57 meters tall. These clock faces are not only enormous in size but are also the largest of their kind in the world, with each measuring 43 meters by 43 meters. Behind the clock faces, visitors can find a fascinating astronomy exhibition housed within the tower, providing insights into the science of timekeeping and celestial observation.
In addition to the clock faces, the tower also houses a scientific center that plays a vital role in the observance of the Islamic calendar. The center is responsible for tracking the moon at the beginning of each month, a critical activity for the Muslim community. The tower is also equipped with an atomic clock, which serves as the foundation for the timekeeping of the massive clock faces. This level of technological integration underscores the significance of the Mecca Clock Royal Tower, not only as a symbol of modernity but also as a functional center for Islamic astronomy and time measurement.
Above the clock and scientific center lies an eight-storey base known as “The Jewel.” This section of the tower is covered and serves as a hub for scientific and cultural exhibitions. From this vantage point, visitors can access the final viewing deck, which provides panoramic views of Mecca and the surrounding region. At the very top of the tower stands a large crescent symbol, a potent emblem of Islam. This crescent, which was constructed in Dubai, weighs a remarkable 35 tonnes and adds an impressive finishing touch to the tower’s skyline.
