Big Take Podcast

The Seismic Change Coming to Islam’s Holiest City

On today’s Big Take podcast: As Saudi Arabia shifts its economy away from oil, looser restrictions on international investors have allowed foreigners to buy property in Mecca for the first time.

Pilgrims walk past high rise hotels and construction cranes on the way to the Grand Mosque in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.Photographer: Iman Al-Dabbagh/Bloomberg

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By Sarah Holder and Rachael Lewis-Krisky

February 18, 2026 at 9:22 PM UTC

Updated on

February 18, 2026 at 10:21 PM UTC

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For the first time in history, Saudi Arabia is allowing international buyers to purchase property in Mecca. This regulatory shift has ignited a building boom, raising concerns over affordability and overdevelopment.