AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): The Maldives’ Minister of Islamic Affairs announced that the required funding has been allocated for the construction of the country’s largest mosque, which will accommodate around 10,000 worshippers at a time and will be built in the Hulhumalé area.
Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed said the project will be implemented in the zone between Hulhumalé Phase II and Phase III, noting that President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu formally unveiled the project during his address at the opening session of parliament.
According to the minister, the groundbreaking ceremony for the mosque is scheduled for September 13 this year, coinciding with the 900th anniversary of the Maldives’ acceptance of Islam. He added that the final size of the complex will be determined once the design process is completed.
At present, the largest Islamic structure in the Maldives is the Malé Islamic Centre, which was built 41 years ago and has a capacity of approximately 4,500 worshippers.
The Minister of Islamic Affairs said the new complex will include, in addition to the mosque, waqf buildings, commercial spaces, and parking facilities, with revenue generated from waqf properties to be used to support Islamic affairs in the Maldives. A Qur’an museum and other cultural and religious facilities are also planned as part of the project.
Shaheem stated that the entire project will be financed by a foreign donor and designed by international experts, with all stages, from design to construction, covered by the same funding body. He described the initiative as “a very important step for the Islamic future of the Maldives.”
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