Al-Hajun: How Makkah's Urban, Religious And Social History Converges

Al-Hajun, an old district in Makkah near the Grand Mosque, is undergoing major urban changes that align with current city development plans. Authorities have upgraded roads and services, removed unsafe informal buildings, and worked to keep important religious and historical locations visible, while balancing modern needs with the area’s long-standing spiritual and social role.

Within these projects, Al-Hajun is part of wider programmes linked to Saudi Vision 2030 that focus on quality of life in Makkah. Plans highlight the area’s position close to the Grand Mosque, aim to strengthen the city’s architectural identity, and seek to present nearby historic locations through organised cultural and knowledge routes for residents and pilgrims.

Al-Hajun is considered one of the earliest urban areas attached to Makkah’s historic centre. The district is closely related to the religious and social history of the city, especially through its connection with the life of the Prophet Muhammad and several events from the early Islamic period, which gives the site special importance for visitors and researchers.

The district grew as a natural extension of Makkah around the Grand Mosque over many centuries. It includes several significant sites, most notably Al-Mualla Cemetery, which is regarded as one of the most important historic cemeteries in Makkah. The cemetery’s location within Al-Hajun strengthens the religious character of the surrounding neighbourhoods.

Al-Hajun lies to the northeast of the Grand Mosque, at the base of Mount Al-Hajun. The district appeared early in Makkah’s expansion as the population increased. Its position along old caravan paths and pilgrimage routes reinforced its role in the city’s commercial life and made it a passage point for traders and pilgrims.

Over time, Al-Hajun contained several quarters that reflected Makkah’s traditional lifestyle, such as Harat Al-Hajun, Shiab Al-Hajun, and Harat Al-Mualla around the cemetery, alongside Harat Al-Bab and Harat Al Al-Sheikh. These areas were known for old Makkah families, closely linked homes, and narrow lanes adapted to the mountain slopes and surrounding valleys.

Al-Hajun neighbourhood economy and crafts in Makkah near the Grand Mosque

Historically, Al-Hajun was a centre for tanning, which formed an important craft and source of income in Makkah. Tanneries operated on the edges of the district and beside nearby valleys. Their location met the need for water, open air, and distance from the Grand Mosque due to the strong smells and specific working conditions involved.

These tanneries supplied Makkah’s markets with different leather goods, including local footwear and items used by travellers and pilgrims. As the city expanded, craft work gradually moved away from residential districts, and tanning activities in Al-Hajun declined, reflecting wider changes in the urban and economic structure of Makkah.

Al-Hajun architecture and identity in Makkah near the Grand Mosque

The old buildings in Al-Hajun were typically built with local stone and gypsum, and often featured wooden mashrabiyas that helped air movement and maintained privacy. This architectural style reflected Makkah’s climate and social habits, and contributed to a clear visual identity that modern plans now seek to protect alongside the push for upgraded infrastructure.

Al-Hajun’s long history, its links to early Islamic events, its role in trade and crafts, and its position next to the Grand Mosque all shape current development plans. Recent projects seek to respect these layers of history while improving services, guiding visitors through key sites, and supporting Makkah’s broader goals under Saudi Vision 2030.

With inputs from SPA