Saudi Arabia is to build a new city covering an area of 2,450 sq km from Makkah to the Red Sea. Known as Al Faisaliah City, it is expected to provide 995,000 homes and accommodate 6.5 million people by 2050.

Prince Khalid Al Faisal bin Abdulaziz, advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and governor of Makkah Region, said the project is actually a giant extension of the holy city of Makkah and is expected to ease the pressure on Makkah and Jeddah, according to a Saudi Press Agency (SPA) report.

The project will consist of a governmental complex, including the Governorate of Makkah Region; an Islamic centre for all Islamic organisations and foundations; an Islamic research centre; centres for meetings, symposia and conference, in addition to residential areas, malls and entertainment, educational, health, agricultural and industrial facilities, an airport and sea port.

The city will also have modern transport facilities including train, metro, tram and bus services.

The project will be supervised by the Makkah Region Development Authority.

The geographical border of the new city will start from the Makkah Haram boundary and will extend up to the Red Sea coast of Al Shuaiba in the west. The Makkah-Jeddah Expressway is located north of the project while Allaith governorate is in the south and west, said a Saudi Gazette report.

The city will receive 9.5 GW of power from renewable energy sources.

It will also aim to attract 10 million visitors, including Haj and Umrah pilgrims, the report added.