Saudi Arabia: World’s largest cooling system installed in Grand Mosque for Hajj

Dubai: Saudi Arabia has activated the world’s largest cooling system—boasting a total capacity of 155,000 tonnes—to ensure a comfortable, safe, and spiritually enriching environment for millions of pilgrims visiting the Grand Mosque in Mecca.

The General Authority for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques oversees this unprecedented system, which plays a vital role in moderating temperatures within the Grand Mosque complex, to ensure that worshipers perform their rituals in the cool and fresh atmosphere inside Al Haram.

The cooling infrastructure is anchored by two main stations: the Shamiya Station, with a capacity of 120,000 tonnes of refrigeration, and the Ajyad Station, which produces 35,000 refrigeration tonnes. The two stations serve the mosque’s vast prayer areas and its multiple expansions.

Operating around the clock, the system maintains a consistent indoor temperature between 22–24°C, even during peak summer heat. It is also equipped with state-of-the-art air purification technologies capable of eliminating up to 95% of airborne impurities, ensuring clean and refreshing air for the pilgrims.

To uphold optimal performance, the authority implements proactive and continuous maintenance procedures, including timely replacement of spare parts, securing operational sites, and effective resource management. These efforts are particularly critical during the Hajj season, when demand for services reaches its peak.

The authority emphasised that the advanced cooling system is part of a broader, integrated vision aimed at enhancing the pilgrimage experience. Its goal is to provide the highest levels of comfort, safety, and reassurance to worshippers performing their rituals amid scorching summer heat.