This giant clock building is originated from the meeting of Islamic leaders and ulama in Doha (Qatar) in 2008. At that time, they concluded that Mecca is the point of the earth's magnetic null zone. You see, the city's position aligned with the Earth's magnetic north. With that position, they argue that Mecca was the true global timeline, not GMT.
It is the second tallest tower in the world after Burj Khalifa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (828 meters). Originally, the Mecca Clock Royal Tower height of only 485 meters planned, then increased to 591 meters. On July 2010, it was decided that the tall tower built reaches 601 meters. Mecca Royal Clock Tower started operating on August 12, 2010, coinciding with the beginning fasting mounth of Ramadan 1431 H.
This tall building which reaches a height of 601 meters consists of 76 floors and was built by the company Kingdom Holdings with a budget of 3 billion dollars.
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| Comparison of skyscraper height. (Picture from: http://www.nohmisdesign.com/) |
The Tower was located in the hotel complex called Abraj Al-Bait. In the complex, there are 7 towers. Mecca Clock Royal Tower is the fifth tower. Hotel complex is located across the street, at the south gate entrance Masjidilharam (Holy Mosque)-Mecca.
At the Mecca Clock Royal Tower are seven star hotel which also functioned as a means of accommodation of the pilgrims. The total capacity of the hotel complex is 65,000 people. In addition there is also the Lunar Observation Center and Islamic Museum.
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| Mecca Clock Royal Tower. (Picture from: http://www.fivestaralliance.com/) |
In the hotel complex, there are also 6,000 residential units, 4 floors shopping centers, and a parking lot with a capacity of up to 1,000 vehicles. To accommodate the pilgrims who will visit the Kaaba, inside the hotel also provided musala with a capacity of more than 10,000 people.
The Mecca Clock Royal Tower has four faces and can be seen clearly from a distance of 11-12 kilometers (daytime) and 17 kilometers (evenings). Surface clock designed by the German company, Premiere Composite Technologies. At the top of the hour, was written in Arabic "الله" or "ALLAH". Two of the clock has a height of 80 meters with a width of 65 meters. Dial diameter reaching 39 meters. This clock size five times larger than Big Ben in London.
Two more of the clock has a 65 meters high and 43 meters wide. Its dial diameter reaching 25 meters. At the top of the clock tower, there are 21,000 white and green lights that will blink (turn on) at the Muslim time of prayers. Beam lights can be seen from a distance of 29 kilometers.
At the celebration of the Muslim holyday, sixteen of giant spotlights will also be lighted clock tower towards the sky. This giant floodlight beam can reach 10 kilometers up. *** [FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | PIKIRAN RAKYAT 17102012]
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