Makkah: The Saudi Riwaq is but one of the many milestones and prides of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia throughout time, one of the iconic achievements of the Saudi architecture of the Grand Mosque, and a historical and modern leap in the expansion of the Grand Mosque. With the number of pilgrims increasing year after year, King Abdulaziz Al Saud realized the need to build the Saudi Riwaq in a new look and a modern expansion of the Grand Mosque, so that it is behind the Abbasid Riwaq, which was built by Mohammad Al-Mahdi between 161-169 AH / 778-785 AD. The Abbasid Riwaq has remained standing though built hundreds of years ago and represents the construction of the Grand Mosque for nearly 1,200 years during which some restoration and renovation to the buildings of the Grand Mosque, but its elements, materials, and area remained untouched since then. In Islamic architecture, Riwaq means the space or corridor located between two columns, and it contains vertical arches or parallel to the Qiblah wall, and it also contains rows of columns, and these arches may be intersecting, meaning they face parallel and vertically towards the Qiblah. Linguistically, Riwaq means what surrounds something. In 1344 AH, King Abdulaziz ordered that repairs and restoration be carried out for the Grand Mosque, and to begin planning the expansion and allocating the spaces that will be used for the 'Saudi Riwaq.' The Grand Mosque has received the utmost care and care from the Saudi state throughout its glorious history, manifested in the huge projects and major expansions carried out over the years since the era of the first Saudi State, all the way to the reign of King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud and his sons. The prosperous reign of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud within a short period saw major qualitative architectural transformations and shifts in the Grand Mosque, which can be seen in the massive expansions. The buildings that were constructed were among the largest in the world in terms of size, area, capacity, including the 'Saudi Riwaq.' Further, advanced support services and modern technologies were introduced in the Grand Mosque, which made it easier for the pilgrims to perform their rituals. Work commenced on the Saudi Riwaq during the reign of King Saud, who in 1375 AH / 1955 AD announced in a historical statement the fulfillment of King Abdulaziz's desire to begin expanding the Grand Mosque. The construction of the Riwaq continued during the reigns of King Saud, King Faisal, and King Khalid between the years 1375/1396 AH - 1955/1976 AD, and its development has continued until the present time. The Saudi Riwaq, in its new form, is a continuation of the Abbasid Riwaq, and it consists of four floors: the courtyard floor, the ground floor, the first floor, and the mezzanine. It extends from the western side when King Fahd ordered a new addition to the Saudi Riwaq, with about 1,500 columns covered with white marble, in addition to domes on the roof of the corridors. During the reign of King Fahd, the area of the Grand Mosque became approximately 365,000 square meters, with a capacity of approximately 1 million worshippers. After this expansion, the Saudi Riwaq included a new door, which is the King Fahd Gate. The area of the Riwaq was extended from the northern side, with a new addition that began during the reign of King Abdullah and was completed during the reign of King Salman. The area of the Grand Mosque became approximately 1 million square meters, with a capacity to accommodate approximately 2 million worshipers, and included many columns and a gate bearing the name King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz. Over the previous years, the kings of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia completed the construction of the Saudi Riwaq, which transformed the area of the Grand Mosque from about 12,000 square meters to more than 1 million square meters, and increased the capacity of the mosque. The Saudi Riwaq has become a special identity for the Grand Mosque of Makkah that still remains today, reflecting the spec ial care the leaders of the Saudi state pays to the architecture of the Two Holy Mosques since the first Saudi State, through King Abdulaziz and his sons, and the kings after him, whose interest was focused on the architecture of the Two Holy Mosques in a way that Islamic history had never witnessed before. The Saudi Riwaq is an icon of construction that neither the Holy City of Makkah nor the Grand Mosque had ever seen before. The Kingdom's government was keen on building the mosque according to the best designs and to use the best materials, thus transforming it into an architectural marvel and breathtaking structure. The Riwaq was illuminated with special chandeliers and columns covered in marble and bright colors. The ceiling was bright and was covered with marble in different colors. The Abbasid Riwaq was also connected to it, and the Saudi Riwaq now has several gates, the most famous of which are the King Abdulaziz Gate, the Umrah Gate, and the Al-Fateh Gate. Source: Saudi Press Agency