SAUDI Arabia’s National Construction Company has been awarded a contract by the International Islamic Relief Organization-Saudi Arabia (IIROSA) to build a 29-storey hotel in Makkah, according to local press reports.

The IIROSA will use the profits from the hotel to fund its sponsorship of orphans within the kingdom and abroad, the Arab News and Saudi Gazette reported.

IIROSA secretary general Dr Adnan bin Khalil Basha was quoted as saying that the tower will further enhance the ability of the organisation to fund its various projects aimed at “the poor, needy and distressed people in the world”.

Located in the Ajyad area of the city, the 518-room tower will have a total built-up area of 24,375 sq m including 518 well-appointed rooms, restaurants, car-park and a praying area accommodating more than 600 worshippers.

The new tower is expected to become one of the landmarks in the holy city.

The IIROSA currently sponsors more than 90,000 orphans across the world including 15,000 in Saudi Arabia.

IIROSA last year launched six new Waqf (endowment) projects in Makkah which are expected to render annual returns of about SR45 million ($11.9 million) that will be used to finance the organisation’s relief, humanitarian and development projects.

The organisation also has three residential and commercial towers in Jeddah, which are currently at the design stage, according to the Saudi Gazette.