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The Middle East has always been the cradle of humanity, and that hasn’t changed. While oil money has kept it afloat, there’s now a shift towards tourism. It would be truly impressive if they were the ones leading the construction efforts. However, the architects, designers, and engineers involved are mostly from external cultures, typically German or American, and almost always Western. Simply footing the bill isn’t as impressive. Mecca authorities have billions and access to plenty of Western engineers willing to undertake these projects for them. In a way, they resemble the ancient Egyptians and their pyramids, possessing more wealth than practicality and a drive to construct something enduring. As a Muslim, I don’t approve of what the Saudis did to Mecca because it overshadows our most sacred structure, the Kaaba.
