DID Press: While large parts of the Muslim world face escalating poverty, conflict, and hunger, the construction and shipment of 550 gold-plated chandeliers worth €90 million for the Grand Mosque in Mecca has reignited debate over priorities in the Islamic world.
The Austrian company Light of Vienna reported that the chandeliers were commissioned by the General Presidency for the Two Holy Mosques, managed by the Saudi government, and produced in a workshop in Guntramsdorf, Lower Austria. Made of stainless steel and plated with 200 kilograms of 24‑karat gold, the fixtures are engineered to withstand temperatures up to 50°C and severe weather conditions, including storms and pressure.
Among them, the “Bab al-Fath” chandelier is the largest, measuring 7 meters in diameter, 10 meters in height, and weighing three tons. It will be installed at the public entrance of the Grand Mosque. All chandeliers were shipped in specially designed wooden crates and containers to prevent damage during transit.
The project has drawn widespread criticism. While millions across 54 Muslim-majority countries contend with war, structural poverty, unemployment, and food insecurity, the lavish spending on religious sites, particularly the Kaaba — a site every Muslim is obliged to visit — has raised serious questions about resource allocation.
Critics argue that the growing opulence of mosques and religious shrines stands in stark contrast to the everyday struggles of followers who face hunger and deprivation, highlighting a stark disparity between symbolic religious grandeur and urgent human needs.