RUA AlHaram AlMakki, a PIF company and the master developer of the King Salman Gate destination in the Holy City of Makkah is a landmark mixed-use development that aims to combine the rich heritage of Makkah and AlMasjid AlHaram with integrated urban development concepts to meet the demands of ever-growing visitors pilgrimage numbers and thus strengthen Makkah's role as a spiritual capital.

Spanning up to 964K square meter of total land area adjacent to AlMasjid AlHaram, the project includes indoor prayer halls and outdoor prayer courtyards with a capacity of around 900,000 praying spaces.

Following an inter­national design competition with globally leading consultants in 2023, where AS+P Albert Speer + Partner GmbH emerged as the 1^st prize winner, the RUA AlHaram AlMakki Company, the master developer, awarded AS+P International Design LLC (AS+P) and its partnering company Buro Happold Saudi Engineering Consultancy LLC with the development of the Pre-Concept and Concept Master Plan for King Salman Gate in May 2024.

As the main designers of the master plan, AS+P is responsible for all urban, architectural, landscape and mobility related design activities and the overall design integration while Buro Happold covers utility and infrastructure planning including crowd man­age­ment, environmental and sustainability aspects. 

The master planning for the King Salman Gate project is designed to enhance the residents, visitors and pilgrim experience through upgraded accessibility, public realm and amenities, micro-climate and infrastructure. An integrated access strategy in connection with a flexible onsite crowd man­age­ment and underpinning public transport system increases the operational capacity of the area especially during the Hajj and Umrah seasons with safety and well-being of the pilgrims, residents and visitors having top priority. A continuous, elegantly designed prayer carpet will extend across the development with a prayer balcony and mezzanine level offering unobstructed panoramic views of the Holy Haram. The destination will feature a range of branded, premium and upscale residences and apartments alongside 4-star to 5-star+ hotels. Retail offerings will include a wide array of shopping and divers dining options as well as a mix of local and inter­national convenience stores providing residents and visitors with a lifestyle full of comfort and convenience.

The master plan utilises both, the vernacular architecture of Makkah and the distinct architectural language of the Holy Haram, to form a seamless extension and humble backdrop to AlMasjid AlHaram embodying the Kingdom's vision of preserving its historical identity while offering the highest levels of comfort and safety to the growing global Muslim community. In harmony with Makkah’s architectural heritage, the project will seamlessly blend the city’s new development with an architectural identity inspired by AlMasjid AlHaram – a destination where heritage meets contemporary living.

With unwavering dedication, the entire AS+P design team is deeply honoured to contributed to the evolution of such an outstanding place and to this pivotal milestone in the Kingdom´s transformative journey. The collaboration between all those involved in the project stands as a testament to the shared vision and commitment to excellence, ensuring that the development will become a cherished legacy for future generations.

A warm thank you to our esteemed project partners: Buro Happold, Buruoj Engineering Consultant, Chronicle Heritage, Edson Yabiku, Nulty, Plan A, PluStudios, Rider Levett Bucknall, Setec, Sterling Presser Architects + Engineers, unit-design, Thomas Schönauer.