The carved marble bonds, stained glass windows and skylights, intricate ceramic tile patterns, and carved wooden doors and size make it a showplace of traditional Islamic art forms. Located in the center of the passenger terminal, it the first sight visitors see as they leave the arrival area. Inside, shafts of sunlight filter through tinted glass and illuminate the interior with a soft amber and blue light that spread tranquility. To reach the mock plaza, a visitor walks up a wide ceremonial stairway in the direction of Makkah. The 46 steps are 60 meters wide at the bottom, tapering to 42 meters at the top.
Escalators are also available to reach the plaza level, one at each side of the stairway.
First time visitors to Riyadh will long remember the sight of the huge dome looming over them as they walk up the steps to the plaza area. The dome and lower roof are clad with buff-colored triangular ceramic tiles, attached to steel beams. The dome is held up by a network of steel columns and trusses, braced by the lower roof. A fabulous chandelier is suspended from the center of the dome. Ninety-six tinted glass light cones are fitted to a bronze hoop 13 meters in diameter to bathe the prayer area in soft light after darkness falls.