Madinah Central Area Masterplan
Enhancing daily journeys in Madinah
Medina, Saudi Arabia
Gillespies' masterplan for Madinah Central Area creates a vibrant and welcoming destination for pilgrims, visitors and residents alike, enhancing its status as an ancient Islamic heritage destination.
Improving journeys
Madinah is a city of religious and historical significance and one of the world's most visited cities. As the home of Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, the Prophet Muhammad’s Mosque, the city welcomes 10 million pilgrims annually, alongside countless visitors and residents. The city faces the challenge of overcrowding, particularly during Hajj and Umrah. To address this, Gillespies was appointed to deliver a visionary masterplan that reimagines the city's spaces, enhancing accessibility, easing crowd movement and introducing vibrant outdoor experiences that encourage connection and opportunities for people to come together and share their spiritual journey.
Our vision for the Central Area creates an inviting, safe, and comfortable environment for both citizens and visitors. The new urban fabric strengthens community infrastructure while promoting social connectivity and preserving the region's rich cultural heritage.
Centred around a dramatically expanded Prophet’s Mosque, the revised development framework introduces a network of pedestrian-friendly streets, grand boulevards, and expansive green spaces that facilitate the smooth movement of crowds, especially during peak periods. These spaces not only ease crowd flow but also provide additional room for prayer and community gatherings.
The Central Area will offer a unique and tranquil setting, with new public spaces, lush greenery, and shaded walkways. These improvements will enhance comfort, aid crowd control, and encourage spontaneous social interactions, enriching the overall visitor experience. A modernised transportation system will accommodate an additional 500,000 people per hour, ensuring easy and direct access to the city’s core.
This transformative masterplan promises to create a world-class environment that offers an unparalleled urban experience while respecting the spiritual and cultural heritage of Madinah.
Project details
Title
Madinah Central Area Masterplan
Client
Confidential
Status
Complete
Project team
Gillespies
Gillespies team
Jim Diggle
Photography
Gillespies
