The foundation stone was laid today for the Sultan Mohamed bin Abdullah Grand Mosque and Islamic Civilisation Centre, which will become the largest multi-facility mosque ever built in the Maldives.
President Mohamed Muizzu officiated the foundation-laying ceremony held in Hulhumalé Phase 2.
The ceremony was attended by Islamic Minister Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed and Bandar Abdullah Al-Rajhi, CEO of Saudi Arabia’s Al-Rajhi Company, which has been contracted for the project. Other dignitaries included the Saudi Ambassador to the Maldives, Yahya Hassan Al-Qahtani, and the Managing Director of the Housing Development Corporation (HDC), Ali Zuhair.
The commencement of this project coincides with the historic 900th anniversary of the Maldives’ conversion to Islam. The mosque is being constructed in the area connecting Hulhumalé Phase 2 and Phase 3.
According to the Islamic Ministry, the center will serve as a landmark reflecting the Islamic civilization and architectural heritage of the Maldives.
The mosque’s main hall will have the capacity to accommodate 10,000 worshippers simultaneously, making it larger than the King Salman Mosque in Malé. The King Salman Mosque, currently the nation’s largest, was built with grant aid from the Saudi government.
In addition to prayer spaces, the new center will feature extensive facilities dedicated to Islamic education and cultural promotion. These include an Islamic library, a cultural center, and a museum showcasing historical information related to the Holy Quran. The complex will also house an exhibition hall for Islamic displays and a multipurpose community hall.
The facility will include a visitor area for the public and tourists, alongside an Islamic bookstore and a gift shop.
The government said that the project will play a pivotal role in promoting Islamic upbringing and culture for both the residents of Hulhumalé and visitors to the Maldives.
An agreement has already been signed with Saudi Arabia’s Al-Rajhi Company to finance the project.
