Located in the heart of Makkah, Masar is being developed by Umm Al Qura for Development & Construction Company, which owns, develops, and operates the destination. The project covers more than 1.2 million square meters and is designed to create a modern urban environment serving both residents and the millions of visitors who travel to the Holy City.

A New Urban Gateway to Makkah

Masar is designed as more than a conventional real-estate development. Its vision is to create an integrated destination where accommodation, retail, services, transportation, and public spaces are connected within a single urban environment.

The development includes hotels, residential and serviced apartments, commercial facilities, and medical services, creating a diverse mix of uses around the needs of visitors and residents.

Its location also gives the project strategic importance. Masar is positioned at the western entrance of Makkah and is designed to strengthen connections between major transportation infrastructure and the central areas of the Holy City.

Connectivity at the Heart of the Development

One of Masar’s defining characteristics is its emphasis on connectivity.

The destination is connected to the Haramain High Speed Railway, helping establish a direct transportation link for visitors arriving in Makkah. Pedestrian connections are also an important part of the development, supporting movement between Masar and the Grand Mosque.

This combination of rail connectivity, road infrastructure, pedestrian routes, and mixed-use development is intended to create a more convenient urban experience for visitors and pilgrims.

Hotels, Residences and Commercial Spaces

Masar is planned around a broad range of hospitality and residential offerings.

Hotels and serviced accommodation are expected to play a central role in supporting Makkah’s growing visitor economy, while residential developments provide additional options for people living and working in the city.

The project also incorporates commercial destinations designed to serve both local communities and visitors. This includes retail, restaurants, services, and other facilities that can contribute to a more active urban environment throughout the year.

According to the Saudi Press Agency, agreements involving major companies and investment funds within Masar have exceeded SAR 63 billion, highlighting the scale of private-sector participation surrounding the destination.

Masar Mall: A Major Retail Component

One of the major developments within Masar is Masar Mall, a large-scale retail and entertainment destination.

The project has a total investment cost of approximately SAR 936 million and is planned on a site exceeding 63,000 square meters. It will offer international brands, restaurants, family-oriented spaces, and cultural and entertainment facilities. Masar Mall is also planned with direct connectivity to the Haramain High Speed Railway and pedestrian access toward the Grand Mosque. It is expected to become an important commercial component of the wider Masar ecosystem.

Sustainability and Smart Urban Development

Sustainability is another important part of Masar’s development strategy.

In early 2026, Masar received LEED for Communities certification, reflecting the project’s approach to integrating environmental, social, and economic considerations into its urban planning and development.

The destination has also introduced a unified digital ownership platform providing information about approved developers and available opportunities within Masar. The platform is intended to improve transparency and support a more organized digital real-estate experience. This combination of sustainability standards and digital services demonstrates how Masar is being developed as a modern urban destination rather than simply a collection of individual buildings.

A New Wave of Development Around Masar

Masar’s development is also expanding beyond its original boundaries.

In June 2026, Umm Al Qura for Development & Construction announced Masar Gardens, a second destination adjacent to Masar. The project covers approximately 1.2 million square meters across Hindawiya West and Hindawiya South.

Masar Gardens is planned as a mixed-use urban destination featuring more than 140,000 square meters of green spaces, over 8 kilometers of pedestrian routes, and a 17-kilometer cycling track. Its development is planned over five years, with later phases expected to include residential, commercial, hospitality, and public facilities.

This expansion indicates that the Masar concept is becoming part of a broader urban-development strategy for western Makkah.

Supporting Makkah’s Visitor Economy

Makkah receives visitors throughout the year for Hajj, Umrah, and religious tourism, creating significant demand for accommodation, transportation, retail, dining, and supporting services.

Masar’s integrated model is designed to respond to this demand by bringing different urban functions together within a connected destination. The development can also support economic activity by creating opportunities for real-estate developers, hospitality operators, retailers, service providers, and other businesses.

Supporting Saudi Vision 2030

Masar Destination aligns with several objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, particularly those related to urban development, tourism, infrastructure, quality of life, and improving the experience of pilgrims and visitors.

The project contributes to the transformation of Makkah by introducing modern infrastructure and mixed-use development while maintaining the city’s importance as a global religious destination.

Its emphasis on pedestrian connectivity, sustainable urban planning, hospitality, digital services, and investment partnerships reflects Saudi Arabia’s broader approach to developing cities around the needs of residents and visitors.

Development Status

Masar remains an active development with multiple components progressing through different stages.

By 2026, the destination had already attracted major development and investment partnerships, while new components such as Masar Mall and the adjacent Masar Gardens were adding further scale to the wider development ecosystem. The latest announcements demonstrate that the project is evolving from a single major destination into part of a larger urban-development cluster in Makkah.

Conclusion

Masar Destination represents a significant transformation in Makkah’s urban development. By combining hospitality, residences, retail, transportation, public spaces, and digital services, the project is creating an integrated environment designed around the needs of both residents and visitors.

With its strategic location, connection to the Haramain railway, major commercial developments, sustainability initiatives, and expanding network of adjacent projects, Masar is becoming an important component of Makkah’s future urban landscape.

As Saudi Arabia continues to transform its major cities under Vision 2030, Masar Destination demonstrates how modern infrastructure and large-scale urban development can be integrated with the unique role of Makkah as one of the world’s most important destinations.