The Islamic holy city of Mecca is embarking upon a project worth 23 billion riyals (184 billion baht) to upgrade its infrastructure that is sagging under the weight of 10 million religious pilgrims annually, especially during the periods of Hajj and Umrah Ramadan.
for more detail visit: http://www.go-makkah.com/english/news/001226/mecca-embarks-on-redevelopment-to-cope-with-hajj-2011-and-umrah-ramadan.html

That is a worthy cause. It's long overdue. This country should do something to get involved in it (like contributing money and manpower).

Unfortunately, the right wing nut jobs here would probably turn it into a political issue instead of keeping it simply as an act of friendship.

I hope one day we ARE able to do something like this as a country without the religious faction butting their uptight pretentious noses into it.