President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has laid the foundation for the largest mosque to be built in the Maldives.
President Dr Muizzu laid the foundation during a special ceremony in Hulhumalé Phase II. Minister of Islamic Affairs and Endowments Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed, Al Rajhi Company Chief Executive Officer Bandar Abdullah Al Rajhi, and Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to the Maldives Yahya Hassan Alqahtani attended the ceremony.
The ‘Jami' Al-Sultan Muhammad bin Abdullah’, planned for construction in Hulhumalé Phase II, will be the largest mosque built in the Maldives to date. The project has been entrusted to the renowned Saudi Arabian Al Rajhi Company.
The mosque is the Sultan Muhammad bin Abdullah Grand Mosque and Islamic Civilisation Centre. Its foundation was laid today in conjunction with the joyous and historic occasion marking 900 years since the Maldives embraced Islam.
The mosque will stand in the area connecting Hulhumalé Phases II and III. The Ministry of Islamic Affairs and Endowments said the significant development will fully represent the rich history and artistry of the Maldives' Islamic civilisation and serve as a valuable legacy connecting faith, knowledge and unity with future generations.
An agreement has been signed with Saudi Arabia's Al Rajhi Company to finance the project. The development will include a main hall and enough space for around 10,000 worshippers to pray at a time, alongside a range of facilities designed to promote Islamic education and culture and strengthen social ties.
The development will also feature dedicated offices for imams and administrative work, as well as a dedicated centre for educational, cultural and social activities. An Islamic library and a cultural centre will help disseminate religious knowledge and history, while a Quran Darul Aasaar will display historical information relating to the Holy Quran.
An exhibition hall will provide space for Islamic and historical exhibitions, while a multipurpose community hall will accommodate various social gatherings. Plans also include a dedicated visitor area for members of the public and tourists visiting the mosque, along with an Islamic bookshop and a gift shop.
The Government considers the development an important building that will play a significant role in providing Islamic education and culture to Hulhumalé residents and visitors to the Maldives.