Jamarat Bridge - Makkah

The Jamarat Bridge is a pedestrian bridge that is located in Mina, near Makkah and is built around the ‘Jamarat’.

Role in Hajj

During Hajj, Muslims use this bridge for their ritual which is the ‘stoning of the devil’ which is supposed to take place from the 10th day until before the sunset of the 13th day of Dhu Al-Hajjah. In this ritual, pilgrims must throw stones at the three Jamarah pillars.

Construction

The bridge is approximately 950 m long. The bridge was constructed to enable pilgrims to throw stones at the three Jamrah pillars as the crowds increased every year. Its construction began in early 2000 with only the ground level and one bridge level. Since then, the bridge has gone through multiple expansions. Bottlenecks were constructed and ramps and tunnels were also built later on to provide people easy access. After 2006, the single tier was transformed into multiple levels. 

Modifications for the Safety of Pilgrims

Due to the increasing number of pilgrims, the Saudi government took measures to prevent any incidents. Footbridges, additional access ways, and emergency exits were built so pilgrims could safely perform their ritual. Through these modifications, the efficiency of the bridge has gradually improved. Previously, the capacity of the bridge was 200,000 people per hour, but now the structure can handle up to 600,000 people per hour.

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