JKAU: Env. Design Sci., Vol. 9, pp: 155 - 167 (1436 A.H. /2015 A.D.) Makkah, a Unique Knowledge City: Universal Spirituality, Global Reach and Local Economy Mamdouh M. A. Sobaihi and Khaled A. Youssef Department of Landscape Architecture, Faculty of Environmental Design, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, P.O. Box 80210, Saudi Arabia
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[email protected] Saudi Arabia Abstract. Located in the western region of Saudi Arabia, Makkah is the centre of the Islamic Faith. The paper investigates the spiritual potential of Makkah to become a unique Knowledge City; in terms of the local economy as well as the universal spiritual reach. As such, the addition of a new layer in the development and planning of the city is to be argued. To solidify the base on which the assumption of the paper is discussed, the spirituality of the City of Makkah is highlighted. Accordingly, a new capital conception is added to the matrix of knowledge capitals in the case of Makkah; i.e. “spiritual capital”, and strategic directions needed for the transition of the city into a unique KC are discussed. By doing that, there should be a paradigm shift in the development of the city from an urban-based development to knowledge citizen-oriented development. Keywords: Makkah, Spiritual, Global, Knowledge City, Knowledge Moments. 1. Introduction Makkah is the place where Allah (God) supposedly commanded the Prophet Abraham 1.1 The City of Makkah: Historical (Ibrahim) (peace be upon him) to build ‘the Background first House of worship’, or ‘the Holy Kaaba, Located in the western region of Saudi which is the black cube in the centre of the Arabia, the Holy City of Makkah is the capital Holy Mosque of Makkah.