Mecca, Saudi Arabia is home to the Abraj Al-Bait. This is a complex of seven government-owned hotels with the central being the Makkah Royal Clock Tower which is the third tallest building in the world. It comes in at 581.1 meters or 1,906 feet.
The entire complex cost $15 billion making it the most expensive building in the world. After the destruction of the Ajyad Fortress in 2002, construction began on this complex of buildings in 2004. The Makkah Royal Clock Tower was finished in 2012 and features 120 floors. Each of the four sides features one of the largest clock faces in the world at 141 ft x 141 ft. In addition to being the largest clock faces, they are also the “most elevated architectural clocks” with their roofs at 1,480 feet. Just below the clock faces, are the highest residential floor at a height of 1,210 feet. If that isn’t cool enough for you, there is an Astronomy Exhibition behind the clock faces. A scientific center located int eh base of the spire and the glass covered floors (called The Jewel) and provides sight of the moon at the beginning of each Islamic month. It also works to operate an atomic clock which in turn operates the four clock faces on the building.
