Re: Mecca’s very own Big Ben
This logic can be applied to anything spent by them. 
All I see is criticsm for the sake of criticizing.
They should make parking lots around Kaaba, small tents for people to stay and should not spend money on anything there…just spend all on improving lives of ‘fellow human being’. 
And what kind of logic is there to compare that to Vatican?
Just becase of being counter part of another religious sect, does not mean Saudis officials must follow what Italy/Vatican does or does not do.
There is no comparison between the two anyway by any other standard.
Vatican reperesents a sect of Christianity. Vatican does not represent whole christianity as the center.
Anyone who thinks the importance and sanctity/respect of the Kaaba an its Minars will be redced by any taller building in the vicinity must not be making a whole lot of sense here.