The development of the Holy Mosque site has incorporated an expansion of the western wing of the existing Mosque, and a subsequent enlargement of the building to hold more than a million worshippers during the Holy Month of Ramadan, and during Umra and Hajj. The expansion project includes over 71,750 square yards [60,000 sq m] of prayer area on the enlarged roof, in addition to another almost 103,000 square yards [86,000 sq m] in the surrounding plaza. Two towering minarets have been added to complement the seven existing whitened stone structures, the latest additions carefully matching the former in architectural style. An elaborate new entrance and eighteen other gates have also been built. Other exquisite decorative work, specially commissioned by King Fahd, adorns a series of 3 domes running parallel to the main gate structure and close to 500 marbled columns on the ground and first floors.

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