Riyadh: Nearly 250 workers are working to finish the construction of what will soon be the tallest golden minaret in the world which is targeted for completion within three weeks before Ramadan.
Work on the minaret, which will be topped by what will also be touted to become the world's largest crescent, is progressing well, sources said.
The minaret is being constructed on top of the Makkah Royal Clock Tower.
When completed, the Makkah Royal Clock Tower project is expected to break many records in the construction world, including the tallest hotel, constructed with the tallest clock tower displaying the world's largest clock face. It will also have the world's largest building floor area, and will become the second tallest building in the world, surpassed only by Dubai's Burj Khalifa
GMT challenge
The project is expected to challenge the supremacy of the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) or the universal time zone reference.
The giant clock of Makkah is set to tick a new time standard which some scholars believe will be an ideal alternative to GMT.
Upon completion, calls for prayers will be made from the Makkah Royal Clock Tower minaret, according to sources.
Trial run of the clock was held at the beginning of last year's Ramadan.
The gigantic Makkah clock project was constructed on top of tower number five of King Abdul Aziz Endowment project, which consists of seven towers.
The clock tower is situated 380 metres above the ground and would have a total height of 601 metres.
The giant clocks will be visible from all districts of Makkah. The clock is made of carbon fibre materials with a special glass ceramic on top. This material used is over three times stronger than steel and is being used in the aerospace industry.
The tower housing the clock was built in a peculiar Islamic style of architecture with The name of Allah inscribed on each of the clock's four faces.
Two lifts will carry visitors to a balcony below the clocks. The complex overlooks the Grand Mosque that Muslims face for daily prayers.
Time pieces
- The front and back clock measure about 43x43m while side clocks are about 43x39m
- The clock is six times bigger than London's Big Ben
- The Big Ben measures about 7x7 metres.
- 200m separate the clock's dial and the top of the hilal (crescent), which measures 23 meters in diameter
- The supreme name of Allah and the Shahadah are visible above the clock
