Masar Gardens (Masar 2): Your Complete, Simple Guide to Makkah's Newest Urban Destination 2026

Just days ago — on June 1, 2026 — a major new project was announced in the heart of Makkah called "Masar Gardens," which people refer to as "Masar 2." The news spread quickly and the questions multiplied: What is this project? Where exactly is it? What will be built there? How is it related to the first "Masar" project? Who funds it? And what does it mean for the people of Makkah and for pilgrims? In this article we explain everything in a very simple way , so you can follow even with no real estate or economics background. Come with us step by step. First: What Is Masar Gardens, Simply? Imagine there's a large Saudi company called "Umm Al-Qura for Development and Construction," whose mission is to develop Makkah and build modern districts in it. This company previously created a giant project called "Masar Destination" (we'll call it Masar 1) — a complete modern district near the Holy Mosque. Now, the company has announced its second destination, named "Masar Gardens" (Masar 2). Put simply: Masar Gardens is a new, integrated urban district to be built in a part of Makkah, combining housing, hotels, shops, gardens, and services in one place. Instead of an old, unorganized area, it is being redeveloped into a modern, beautiful, green destination. The word "Gardens" in the name signals a focus on green spaces and quality of life. Second: Where Is the Project? (Location and Districts) The project sits in the western side of Makkah , specifically within two well-known neighborhoods: Western Al-Hindawiyah: taking the larger share, around 841,000 square meters. Southern Al-Hindawiyah: around 308,000 square meters. Combined, the project's total area is about 1.2 million square meters — an enormous area (imagine more than 160 football fields in one place). The importance of this location is that it lies in western Makkah , close to the central area — a vibrant zone full of residents and visitors — making its development directly impactful for the whole city. Third: What Does the Project Include? (Components) Masar Gardens is classified as a "mixed-use" project. This term simply means it's not limited to one type of building, but combines several types in one integrated district, so a person finds everything they need without leaving it. It is expected to include: Residential units: modern apartments and residential towers for Makkah's people. Hotel units: hotels and serviced apartments for pilgrims and visitors. Retail facilities: shops, stores, and shopping centers. Gardens and green spaces: the project's hallmark, as its name suggests, to raise quality of life. Complementary services: pedestrian walkways and service facilities for residents and visitors. The project will be executed via a phased, gradual launch — not built all at once, but phase after phase over the years. Fourth: How Much Does It Cost and How Long Will It Take? The estimated initial cost for infrastructure and land is around 6 billion Saudi Riyals . It's important to understand this figure covers infrastructure and land only (roads, services, site preparation), not the project's final value after building the towers and facilities — the total value is usually much higher upon completion. The development period reaches up to 5 years . Fifth: How Is It Funded and Executed? (Alliance and Fund Model) This point may seem complex, but we'll simplify it fully. The project isn't executed by one company alone, but through a "strategic alliance" — a group of companies that agreed to work together, each taking a role it does best. The roles are: Umm Al-Qura for Development and Construction — Alliance Leader and Development Manager: the head of the project that leads, manages, and supervises its execution. Makkah Construction and Development Company — Financial Partner: its role is to pay cash compensation to current property owners in the area (explained shortly). Al-Rajhi United Real Estate Company — Technical Partner: the one that actually carries out the development work and bears its financial burden, in exchange for units in the fund . What Is the "Fund" That Will Be Created? An "investment fund" is simply a financial container into which the project's assets are pooled and divided into "units" (like shares). Whoever owns more units owns a larger share of the project and its profits. In Masar Gardens, Al-Rajhi United will receive units in this fund in exchange for carrying out the development. The fund's details and shares will be precisely defined in the final agreements between the parties. And Who Owns Umm Al-Qura Itself? For context, Umm Al-Qura is backed by major government bodies and sovereign funds in the Kingdom, including the Public Investment Fund, the Ministry of Finance, the General Organization for Social Insurance, the Public Pension Agency, and the General Authority for Awqaf (Endowments) . This gives the project significant weight and credibility. Sixth: What Does the Project Mean for Current Property Owners? Since the project is a redevelopment of an existing area (Al-Hindawiyah), there are properties and owners currently within its scope. This is where Makkah Construction and Development Company comes in — it will handle paying cash compensation to these owners for their properties, after which the area is fully redeveloped per the new design. In other words, owners of existing properties within the scope will receive compensation for their holdings under the project's mechanism. Seventh: What Is the Benefit for Makkah and the Guests of God? The project is more than buildings — it has a large impact on the holy city, and falls within the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 , specifically the Quality of Life Program and the Guests of God (Doyof Al-Rahman) Service Program . Its key benefits include: Raising the quality of life for Makkah residents: modern housing, gardens, services, and an organized environment. Serving pilgrims and visitors: hotel units and modern facilities near the central area to ease their stay. Developing western Makkah: improving infrastructure and the urban appearance of a vital zone. Boosting the local economy: jobs, investments, and commercial activity. Sustainability and green spaces: following the path of the first "Masar Destination," which earned LEED Gold certification for green communities in January 2026. Eighth: The Difference Between "Masar Destination" (1) and "Masar Gardens" (2) Criterion Masar Destination (Masar 1) Masar Gardens (Masar 2) Order First destination Second destination Location Central area, ~550 m from the Holy Mosque Western & Southern Al-Hindawiyah (west Makkah) Area ~1.2 million m² ~1.2 million m² Investment value Tens of billions (massive investment) ~6 billion Saudi Riyals for infrastructure & land initially Status Advanced in execution, listed on Tadawul Awarded recently (June 2026) Type Mixed-use urban destination Mixed-use urban destination Ninth: What Does the Project Mean for the Real Estate Investor? Major development projects usually raise property values in surrounding areas and create new demand for housing and services. So launching Masar Gardens may have a positive medium-to-long-term effect on Makkah's western real estate market. But — since this involves financial decisions — any investor should be patient, follow the final agreements and official details, and consult specialists before any decision. This article is for general education, not an investment recommendation. Frequently Asked Questions When was Masar Gardens announced? Its development award was announced on June 1, 2026; it is the second destination by Umm Al-Qura for Development and Construction in Makkah. Where exactly is the project located? In western Makkah, within Western Al-Hindawiyah (~841,000 m²) and Southern Al-Hindawiyah (~308,000 m²), totaling about 1.2 million square meters. Which companies are involved in its execution? A strategic alliance of: Umm Al-Qura (alliance leader and development manager), Makkah Construction and Development (financial partner), and Al-Rajhi United Real Estate (technical partner). How long will the project take? The development period reaches up to 5 years, via a gradual phased launch. How does it differ from the first Masar project? Masar 1 ("Masar Destination") is near the Holy Mosque, advanced in execution, and listed on the stock market, while Masar 2 ("Masar Gardens") is a newly announced project in Al-Hindawiyah, western Makkah. Conclusion Masar Gardens (Masar 2) is a new step in the journey of developing Makkah, built on a simple yet ambitious idea: transforming an area in the city's west into an integrated, green urban destination combining housing, hotels, retail, and gardens — through a strong alliance of companies and a structured investment fund, with a direct impact on the quality of life of Makkah's people and the service of the Guests of God, within Vision 2030. The more Makkah develops in urban and service terms, the more this reflects on its real estate market and on the experience of everyone who lives in or visits it. 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