Abdullah F. Alqurashi
Assistant Professor, Geography Department, Faculty of Social Sciences, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
Volume: 17 | Issue: 4 | Pages: 01-21| December 2025 | https://doi.org/10.54940/ss71509260 | PDF
Received: 13/11/2025 | Revised:27/11/2025 | Accepted: 03/12/2025
Corresponding Author: [email protected]
Abstract
The city of Makkah has undergone rapid urban expansion driven by population growth, economic development, and its unique status as a global religious destination for millions of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims. This study aims to analyze urban expansion patterns in Makkah from 1985 to 2024 using satellite imagery and spatial analytical techniques. An object-based image analysis (OBIA) was applied for land cover classification, along with the Landscape Expansion Index (LEI) and various landscape metrics to identify growth types: infilling, edge-expansion, and outlying growth. Results indicate a gradual shift from centralized urban development to more dispersed and fragmented peripheral expansion, particularly in the 2005–2024 period, influenced by pilgrimage-related infrastructure. A persistent low level of infilling was also observed, highlighting limited densification in the urban core. The study emphasizes the need for planning policies that integrate seasonal population dynamics while balancing religious functions with urban sustainability.
Keywords
Urban expansion, Urban expansions patterns, Remote sensing, Spatial Analysis, Makkah
How to Cite
Alqurashi, A. (2025). Spatial Modelling of Urban Expansion in Makkah: A Quantitative Analysis of the Impact of Hajj Pilgrims on Urban Structure. Journal of Umm Al-Qura University for Social Sciences, 17(4), 01-21. https://doi.org/10.54940/ss71509260
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