Riyadh: The lighting system of the Grand Mosque underwent a historic transformation during the reign of King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud, marking a monumental shift from traditional oil lamps to modern electrification that laid the foundation for the exceptional care the Saudi state dedicates to the Two Holy Mosques and their millions of visitors.
According to Saudi Press Agency, before the unification of the Kingdom, lighting within the Grand Mosque was primarily concentrated in the Mataf (circumambulation area). The sanctuary relied heavily on oil lamps, candles, and a network of copper columns intricately designed to resemble palm trees, with lamps suspended from their metallic branches. Iron beams strung between the arcade columns held additional fixtures, bringing the total to approximately 1,422 lamps, excluding those lighting the minarets. The Kaaba Gate itself was illuminated by a distinctive white metal candelabrum. During this early period, electricity was exceedingly rare, restricted to a simple 3-kilowatt generator powering a handful of lanterns around the Mataf.
A new era of comprehensive modernization began under King Abdulaziz. In Shaaban of 1347 AH, he issued a royal directive to overhaul the system, ordering the replacement of outdated fixtures and the installation of approximately 1,000 electric lamps to thoroughly illuminate the Mataf and the arcades. Additionally, 30 300-watt lanterns were installed to brighten the mosque's entrances and surrounding corridors. By Ramadan of that same year, the Grand Mosque was fully electrified.
The infrastructural upgrades continued in 1349 AH when King Abdulaziz ordered the acquisition of a robust 13-horsepower generator, significantly enhancing the illumination and complementing new architectural aesthetic additions. In 1369 AH, a royal decree established the Makkah Electricity Company, granting it the official concession to illuminate Makkah and the Grand Mosque, thereby ending the reliance on scattered, neighborhood-level generators.
This technological leap culminated in early 1373 AH with the inauguration of the first central power station in Al-Tan'im. This milestone marked the beginning of a systematic, comprehensive electricity grid, ushering the Grand Mosque into the modern era of lighting.
Today, historical photographs and archival records meticulously document these successive stages, from the flickering glow of oil lamps to the first humming generators and finally to modern institutional electrification. This journey reflects a remarkable civilizational transformation and underscores the Kingdom's enduring commitment to evolving and perfecting the services provided at the Two Holy Mosques.