Jabal Omar completes 90% of Makkah project’s first phase

Jabal Omar Development Company (JODC), which is developing the Jabal Omar area around Makkah’s Grand Mosque, has completed 90 percent of the project’s first phase.

The company’s board issued a report on Wednesday covering the project’s latest developments for the 2014 fiscal year.
 
According to the report, a commercial complex and a Makkah Hilton debuted already in Ramadan 2014.  
 
JODC said it will launch three hotels in 2015 before the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, including a Marriott Hotel with a capacity of 426 rooms, Hyatt Hotel with a capacity of 660 rooms, and another Hilton franchise featuring 440 rooms.

Another commercial market will also be opening soon in the area.

The Makkah grand mosque project has been awarded to a consortium of local, and international contracting companies, according to the report.

The second and third phases are still under construction.

Phase two consists of four hotels towers, and 72 villas on a space of 200,000 square meters. In March 2012, the company announced that it would take an implementation period of 24 months; however, it has been delayed due to "technical" issues, leaving only 20 percent complete.

The third phase— which is being implemented by a consortium of Arab contracting companies as well as Drake & Scull International— consists of four towers and a shopping mall. Just two of the towers have been completed, while the rest are still under construction.

The project’s fourth phase, set to be completed in 36 months, includes structural plateaus to be built on a space of 320,000 square meters. It is still in the beginning phase of development. 

The fifth and final phase of the project will include five towers on 173,000 square meters. The project has not yet been awarded to any company.