By ALI AL-JIHLI | AL-WATAN
THE city of Makkah is the center of attraction for Muslims from all over the world. Indeed, Makkah is the heart of Islam.
Pilgrims arrive from all parts of the globe to visit the Grand Mosque. The most precious human treasures are in Makkah and its surroundings since the times of the Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him). The Saudi government is spending billions of riyals to upgrade infrastructure facilities in the holy city.
Everyone knows that Makkah, despite its mountainous terrain, is surrounded by plains in all directions but one. The distance between the Hijaz Mountains and the Red Sea is more than 60 kilometers, with Makkah located in the middle. Thus, the topography of the area would not prevent building an airport in the city. Why, then, do the authorities dismiss the idea?
The Jeddah airport is nearly 100 kilometers away from the center of Makkah. In normal traffic, passengers coming from Makkah need one and a half hours to reach the airport. This is in addition to the cost of renting a car, which doubles during peak seasons.
Categories: Asia, Islam, Saudi Arabia