mikewot

About 4,000 loudspeakers have been set up in and around the Grand Mosque in Mecca, meaning that pilgrims during the peak Ramadan and Hajj seasons experience "first-class sound quality", the speaker system has a range of 9km (5.6 miles), and is windproof, "meaning sound will remain crystal clear even in rough weather".

In addition, green and white lights have been installed on top of the Mecca Clock Tower to inform the faithful of prayer times. At 601m (1,972ft) high, the Abraj Al-Bait clock tower is the third tallest free-standing building in the world, and the lights can be seen 30km (18.6 miles) away, "helping worshippers with hearing difficulties",

In April, Mecca authorities say they expected a 15% rise in the number of Ramadan visitors this year, with the Grand Mosque doubling the floor capacity of some areas, and installing an additional 3,928 toilets for the comfort of its visitors,


BBC News - News from Elsewhere

Boomhauer

I wonder what the Saudis would do if the infidels stopped selling them waste treatment and transportation equipment ; probably a collective Holy Sh1t

redShark

Nah, no big deal would happen, they can easily go back to their tradional way of life. What about your country? Don’t you actually think you can be more vulnerable than them when it comes to waste treatment crises! Imagine what would happen to the toilet rolls factories in your country if those guys decided to stop pumping out their oil? I’d imagine it would be a complete stinking disaster!!!

NorthernLad

Contrary to popular belief, Saudi Arabia is not the worlds only oil producing country.

'Easily go back to their traditional way of life'..., you get better and better.

stormwynd

Yuck. That mentality is so disgusting. People can appreciate other nations without being disloyal to their own. I'm actually surprised to see an expat say this... it's what I'd expect from my brethren in the central US.

Meow

You are clearly not familiar with our resident troll, redminnow. You might want to check out the history in here before making accusations to other posters.

Millhouse

I sometimes wonder who is the Troll... Norm, me or the Red Fish.

Meow

I thought we were talking about behaviour, not looks...

Bahtatboy

Which you need to compare with the fact that for every 4 Saudis there's 1 expat, which probably equates to about 1 expat for each working Saudi. If the expats left, the country would shudder to a halt overnight.

Irishbeekeeper

well he DID say that he got fat-er!

redShark

Well, our subject of discussion is human waste management, apparently a genuine concern raised by Boomhauer (out of many other serious concerns that she could have thought of). I so happen to be of the idea that the Saudis can easily manage this problem, while it can be a serious problem at hand in other parts of the world should the paper tissues industry get affected

Bahtatboy

Your naivety has no bounds.

Actually, its some feat to display the depth and breadth of it in just two sentences. Outstanding.

Millhouse

Have you ever been to Saudi... say Riyadh during a storm?

shiva

Of course he ****ing hasn't

I'd lay a good sized wager that should our trolling friend ever visit the holy land and it's sites he'd be a very quiet troll for a very long time

Beakersful

It is hilarious every time the fresh-off-the-boat fundies arrive and start spouting off. Curiously, not many of them survive even the first year out.