Video
Report and vocabulary
- transcript
It's Islam's holiest site. Millions make the pilgrimage to the Grand Mosque every year.
The pace of high-rise development in the city has led some to compare modern-day Mecca to Manhattan.
But archaeologists are angry that ancient monuments are being destroyed so rich visitors can be accommodated in luxury hotels.
The Saudi authorities say the demolition is necessary to cope with the ever-growing number of visitors.
- holiest
of greatest religious importance
- pilgrimage
journey to a place of spiritual significance
- high-rise
describes a tall building with many floors
- archaeologists
people who study buildings and other objects from the past
- demolition
the total destruction of something