Until recently, this period of waiting extended until the pilgrims were close enough to see the minarets of Masjid al-Haram. Prior to that, their sights were only of the towering buildings and distant majestic mountains of the surrounding dessert. However, one of the largest ventures taken in the expansion project of Masjid al-Haram has finally cut short that long wait. The direction of the sacred mosque can be discerned several miles away, especially at night, due to our new beacon of guidance: Abraj al-Bait or the Makkah Royal Clock Tower Hotel. While large areas of the surrounding wilderness and mountains have been flattened for the Masjid al-Haram expansion project, the landmark that caught the eyes of all visitors was the colossal clock. The face of the highest tower of Abraj al-Bait’s seven towers, the clock is located some 500 metres away from the Kaaba. Adorned with the world’s largest clock face, Abraj al-Bait is the highest clock tower and the third tallest building in the world. Built on a stretch of 1.5 million square metres, it also sets the record for greatest area covered by a complex. The foundation of the hotel was laid in 2004 and it was finally completed and unveiled on August 20, 2011 (Ramadan 20, 1432). Abraj al-Bait was built after the demolition of the Ottoman Empire’s Ajyad Fortress, on a hill overlooking Masjid al-Haram. The hill beside the citadel had also been flattened. Built on the orders of former King Fahad, the revenue from the hotels, restaurants and other businesses within the building covers the expenditures for the maintenance of Masjid al-Haram and Al Masjid an-Nabawi. Abraj al-Bait is a collection of seven towers built adjacent to one another by the main contractor of the project, Saudi Binladen Group. Billions of dollars were invested into the construction of these towers, the tallest of which measures 601 metres. The component towers are: Burj al-Safa : 240 metres tall with 28 floors consisting of 950 housing units and 27 elevators Burj al-Marwa : 240 metres tall with 29 floors consisting of 1200 housing units and 27 elevators Burj al-Haja r: 260 metres tall with 37 floors consisting of 1700 housing units and 36 elevators Burj Zamzam : 260 metres tall with 35 floors consisting of 1750 housing units and 41 elevators Burj al-Maqam : 250 metres tall with 48 floors consisting of 1750 housing units and 40 elevators Burj al-Qibla : 250 metres tall with 45 floors consisting of 1690 housing units and 38 elevators Hotel Tower : 601 metres tall with 60 floors consisting of 1930 housing units and 50 elevators. The tallest tower of the Mecca Royal Tower Hotel has VIP wings and luxury flats for the Saudi Royal family, along with special flats for prominent businessmen. Adorning the top of the Hotel Tower is a long thin spire with a golden crescent at its apex. The massive clock is on all four faces of the building and, reportedly, can be seen from 25 kilometres (16 miles) away due to its sheer height and size. The clocks on the four faces of the buildings have a diameter of 46 meters (151 feet), and at night, they are lit with 2 million LED lights. The minute hand measures 22 metres while the hour hand is 17 metres. The phrase “Allah Akbar” (God is great) is embellished above the clocks on the northern and southern faces of the tower, while above the eastern and western clocks is the Shahada (Islamic creed declaring belief in the oneness of God and acceptance of Muhammed [pbuh] as God’s prophet). The Adhan (call for prayer) is marked by the flashing of 21,000 white and green lights on the spire’s crescent moon. These lights are visible 30 kilometres away. The intent of the lights is to announce the call for prayer to the hearing impaired. The most notable facilities within the tower include a prayer hall that accommodates 10,000 worshippers, an Islamic Museum and a moon observation centre. Before the unveiling of the Mecca Clock Tower, the world’s biggest clock was the London landmark at the Palace of Westminster – the “Big Ben”. Completed in 1858, it is one of the most famous sites in the United Kingdom. The title of World’s biggest clock shifted from the Big Ben to the Mecca Royal Clock Tower, with the latter’s inauguration. In comparison, the diameter of the Mecca clock is 151 feet, while Big Ben measures 23 feet. The Mecca tower has a height of 1970 feet, while Big Ben’s Elizabeth Tower (formerly St Stephen’s Tower) is 315 feet tall. Each numerical on the Big Ben is illuminated by 28 lights. Mecca’s clock face requires two million LED lights, including the 21,000 green and white lights that flash at each Adhan . The Mecca Royal Clock Tower is not merely a decorative landmark on the face of Mecca, however. According to several Maldives’ pilgrims, during their first few days of familiarising themselves with the city, the clock tower was like a beacon for them, guiding them from Masjid al-Haram to their hotels and back. Abraj al-Bait also became a rendezvous point for friends who came on pilgrimage in different Hajj groups. Eager plans are made to meet in front of the Mecca Clock Tower after prayers at Masjid al-Haram. Hence, this famed Clock Tower is not only a landmark on the horizon of Mecca, but a beacon of guidance for the pilgrims as well. Editor’s Note : Haveeru Senior Assistant Editor Ahmed Abdullah Saeed is currently performing Hajj at Saudi Arabia. He will provide readers with reports, photographs and videos of this year’s Hajj. Previously: Chronicles of a Maldives' Pilgrim – Part 1: A whole other world Chronicles of a Maldives' Pilgrim – Part 2: Maldivian students' commendable aid in Medina Chronicles of a Maldives’ Pilgrim – Part 3: Battle to enter Rawdah! Coming Next : Chronicles of a Maldives’ Pilgrim – Part 5: Extraordinary umbrellas of Medina