The need to provide more accommodation and better infrastructure for the growing number of Hajj pilgrims has led to a flood of investment in the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.

Muslims are obliged to perform the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca – the fifth pillar of Islam – at least once in their lifetime if they are able bodied and have the financial means. While fewer than 100,000 pilgrims performed Hajj as recently as 1950, the number has ballooned in recent decades, reaching 2.9 million in 2011.

When factoring in Umrah, a shortened form of Hajj that can be performed at any time of the year, the number of people making pilgrimages to Mecca each year is forecast to rise to 13.8 million by 2019, says John Podaras, director Middle East & North Africa for Christie + Co. Fuelling this rapid growth is the steady rise in the number of Muslims worldwide – forecast to grow by 35% to 2.2 billion in 2030.

"The need to provide more accommodation and better infrastructure for the growing number of Hajj pilgrims has led to a flood of investment in the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. Muslims are obliged to perform the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca - the fifth pillar of Islam - at least once in their lifetime if they are able bodied and have the financial means. While fewer than 100,000 pilgrims performed Hajj as recently as 1950, the number has ballooned in recent decades, reaching 2.9 million in 2011. When factoring in Umrah, a shortened form of Hajj that can be performed at any time of the year, the number of people making pilgrimages to Mecca each year is forecast to rise to 13.8 million by 2019, says John Podaras, director Middle East & North Africa for Christie + Co. Fuelling this rapid growth is the steady rise in the number of Muslims worldwide - forecast to grow by 35% to 2.2 billion in 2030."

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