The Clock Towers
Government-owned hotel complex with the world's tallest clock tower.
The Clock Towers (Arabic: أبراج الساعة, romanized: ʾAbrāj as-Sāʿaẗ, lit. 'Towers of the Clock', formerly known as Abraj al-Bait) is a government-owned hotel complex with seven skyscraper hotels in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. These towers are part of the King Abdulaziz Endowment Project that aims to modernize the city in catering to its pilgrims. The central hotel tower, the Mecca Royal Clock Tower, is the fourth-tallest building and sixth-tallest freestanding structure in the world. According to Guinness World Records, the Mecca Royal Clock Tower is the tallest clock tower in the world, and the complex of seven buildings comprises the world's second most expensive building.
- location
- Mecca, Saudi Arabia
- tallest building in Saudi Arabia
- Yes
- number of towers
- 7
- total cost
- US$15 billion
- developer
- Saudi Binladin Group
- clock faces
- Largest in the world at 43 m × 43 m
Lore & Background
The Clock Towers complex was built after the demolition of the Ajyad Fortress, an 18th-century Ottoman citadel on a hill overlooking the Grand Mosque. It contains a five-star hotel operated by Fairmont Hotels and Resorts, a five-story shopping mall, and a parking garage for over a thousand vehicles. The clock faces on all four sides are the largest in the world, illuminated by 2 million LED lights, and the clock is set to Arabia Standard Time (UTC+03:00). No injuries or deaths were reported in either incident. Non-Muslim members of the construction team were not allowed to visit the site, and some specialists from Poland and Germany converted to Islam to be able to do so.
Reader's Guide
The Clock Towers represent a major modernization effort for Mecca, aimed at accommodating the millions of pilgrims who travel annually for the Hajj. As the world's second most expensive building complex, it symbolizes the Saudi government's investment in religious tourism and infrastructure. The complex's location on the site of the demolished Ajyad Fortress has been a source of controversy, drawing criticism from Turkey and heritage advocates for the loss of an 18th-century Ottoman citadel. The clock tower's attempt to promote Mecca Time as a global standard, though ultimately set to Arabia Standard Time, reflects the complex's role in asserting Islamic identity on a world stage. The towers' massive scale—including the largest clock faces in the world and a spire with a crescent weighing 35 tonnes—makes them a landmark visible from 25 kilometers away. The complex's construction by the Saudi Binladin Group, the Kingdom's largest construction company, underscores the intersection of state power, religion, and commerce in contemporary Saudi Arabia.
Did You Know?
- The clock is set to Arabia Standard Time (UTC+03:00), not Mecca Time as some reports suggested.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are The Clock Towers?
The Clock Towers (ʾAbrāj as-Sāʿaẗ) is a government-owned hotel complex in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, made up of seven skyscraper hotels. It was formerly called Abraj al-Bait and was built as part of the King Abdulaziz Endowment Project to modernize the city for pilgrims.
Who developed The Clock Towers and what did it cost?
The Saudi Binladin Group was the developer behind the project, which carried a total construction cost of roughly US$15 billion.
Why is The Clock Towers significant in the architectural world?
Guinness World Records recognizes the Mecca Royal Clock Tower as the tallest clock tower on Earth. It also serves as a major hospitality hub, housing seven hotel towers designed to accommodate the massive flow of pilgrims visiting Mecca.
How many towers make up The Clock Towers complex?
The complex consists of seven skyscraper hotels arranged around the central Mecca Royal Clock Tower. Together they form one of the largest hotel complexes in the world.
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