Jabal Omar Development Company, will invest $3.2bn in the construction of 40 residential towers to accommodate up to 160,000 pilgrims and a prayer area for 200,000 worshippers. Ten towers are slated to open in 2013.

This landmark project, to be carried out over a 244,800m2 area, includes 2 five-star hotels with 935 rooms, six three-star hotels with 1,255 rooms, 20-storey residential buildings, 520 restaurants and 4,360 commercial and retail shops.

Air-conditioned plazas for 100,000 worshippers, open courtyards for 120,000 people and a huge parking spot for 10,000 vehicles will also be built.