Makkah Advances Preservation and Development of Historical and Cultural Sites

Makkah’s historical and cultural sites are being brought into a broader preservation and development system designed to make the city’s layered history easier for visitors to discover.

The sites include places associated with events from the life of the Prophet and Islamic history, as well as roads, markets, wells, inscriptions, and landmarks that have shaped Makkah’s identity over centuries. The strategy covers documentation, protection, rehabilitation, visitor-experience development, partnerships, and site readiness and sustainability.

Authorities have completed 65 development studies, documented 56 sites, rehabilitated 32, and enhanced 23. A total of 28 sites are now open to visitors.

Visitor numbers reached 5.9 million by the end of the second quarter of 2026, up 47% from 3.6 million during the same period in 2025. Visitor satisfaction reached 95.8%. Since the strategy began, historical and cultural sites in Makkah have recorded more than 19 million visits.

The program reflects an expansion of both the network of sites and the experiences available to visitors, with more locations moving from study and preservation into public access and engagement.