Al-Zaher Palace

General information

The historic Al-Zaher Palace, also known as Makkah Museum, is located in Makkah Al-Mukarramah. Its construction began in 1365 AH following the order of the late King Abdulaziz - may Allah bless his soul - and took seven years to complete. The 3,425 square meter palace was initially used for hospitality. Then in 1378 AH, it was granted to the Ministry of Education to become Al-Zaher Intermediate School, which remained this way for 20 years. The palace was then transferred to the Antiquities and Museums Agency, which took over its restoration and transformation into a heritage and antiquities museum. The building consists of 3 floors, with the ground floor featuring a large hall with a colored marble fountain in the middle, topped with a dome resting over 24 circular columns. The galleries overlooking the main hall are distributed as follows: The right side of the building exhibits Archeology of Saudi Arabia, Pre-history of Makkah, and the Geological and Natural History of Makkah and an office for the museum's manager and employees. The left side of this floor features a resting area for visitors, the Pre-Islam Makkah Hall, a library, followed by a corridor leading to the kitchen for the museum's female administration. As for the first floor, the right side contains the Prophet's Biography, Development of Arabic Writing, Currencies, and Pilgrimage Halls. The left side includes halls showcasing the holy mosque's architecture, the three stages of the Saudi state, history of education, and Makkah heritage. The center of the building exhibits the masterpieces of Islamic art, while the roof is allocated for the Lecture Hall.