8 facts about Quran bridge, the gateway to Makkah

Almost every Muslim residing in Saudi Arabia has visited the Quran bridge which is the gateway to Makkah if entering from Jeddah. Here are some facts about it.

1- The Quran Bridge signifies the boundaries of Haram. Once you cross this, you are in the holy land.

2- Quran gateway is located in Makkah on the Jeddah-Makkah Highway and is 27 km away from Masjid-al-Haram. You can easily notice the structure while entering the premises of Makkah from the West.

3- Quran bridge was designed by Dia Aziz Dia and by an Egyptian architect, Samir Elabd in 1979 for an architectural firm IDEA Centers.

4- The structure is a huge open Holy Quran kept on a Quran stand. This is not only an impressive structure from the point of view of tourism but in fact, soothes the eyes of all Muslims when one enters the Holy City.

5- Quran bridge is so huge that it covers eight lanes of traffic including a center highway divider. The gateway is built as an arch over the road, and consists of three main parts:

• Two premises each 30 m × 48 m (98 ft × 157 ft) wide and about 3 m (10 ft) tall, and located at sides of the road; act as support blocks for wings (make arch)
• Two wings each about 80 m (262 ft) long, 48–18 m (157–59 ft) wide and 20 m (66 ft) tall, and stretching-up from premises to merge about 23 m (75 ft) above the road; act as support foundation for book (its stand)
• Open book with two pages about 16.5 m (54 ft) long and 26 m (85 ft) wide each, and spanning 23–31 m (75–102 ft) above the road; acts as the main symbol for the arch.

6- The sides of the stand have beautiful blue and green glass windows attached to the walls. The whole structure is decorated with various patterns and can get illuminated at night in many different ways.

7- Only Muslims are allowed to enter the Holy cities of Madinah and Makkah.

• Why Non-Muslims cannot enter Makkah?

8- Under the Quran Gateway structure, the government has planted palm trees between the four-laned incoming and outgoing roads to Makkah.