New Entry & Exit Routes Introduced at Grand Mosque

CairoScene

24-03-2025

The measures aim to ease congestion as worshippers and Umrah pilgrims reach record numbers during the final days of Ramadan.
The General Authority for the Care of the Two Holy Mosques has implemented a new series of entry and exit routes at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, designed to ease congestion and facilitate smoother crowd movement during the final ten days of Ramadan.
With a record influx of worshippers and Umrah pilgrims expected, the authority has designated specific gates for primary access. These include the King Abdulaziz Gate (Gate 1), King Fahd Gate (Gate 79), and King Abdullah Gate (Gate 100), each identifiable by their accompanying minarets to guide incoming worshippers.
Pilgrims heading to the Mataf area — the central open-air space surrounding the Kaaba where Tawaf (circumambulation) is performed — are now directed to use the Shubaika Bridge, Ajyad Bridge, and Al Arqam Bridge. The route adjustments aim to reduce crowding in interior corridors and ensure steady, organised movement within the mosque.
Exit routes from the Al Masa'a area — the corridor between Safa and Marwah — have also been reorganised. New exit points from both the ground and first floors include Al Safa Gate (Gate 13), the Prophet Mohammed Gate, Al Marwah Gate, Al Marwah Bridge, and the Al Marwah Wheelchair Bridge. These improvements are intended to reduce bottlenecks in high-traffic areas and enhance the overall experience for worshippers during the peak of the holy month.