Abu Dhabi: His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Mosque in Al Ain will reflect the history of Islamic architecture, a senior official told Gulf News.
Among the modern facilities in the mosque premises, the design has three helipads for VIPs.
The blend of ancient heritage and modern architecture will make it not only a major tourist attraction but also a representation of the past and present in one place, he said.
“President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan directed that this masjid should represent the distinct identity of Islamic architecture. He wanted us to go back to inspire the architectural heritage in the Islamic world in Egypt, Iraq, Turkey, Algeria, Palestine, the Far East and elsewhere. We managed to combine all those elements and made something unique,” Dr Mubarak Sa’ad Al Ahbabi, Chairman of the Department of the President’s Affairs, said.
The features of the most prominent and historical mosques in the Arab world have been absorbed into the design. The features of the Great Mosque of Taza in Morocco, the Great Mosque of Tlemcen in Algeria and the Dome of the Rock in Palestine are the most prominent among them, he said.
The Shaikh Khalifa Masjid in Al Ain is located on the premises of an old masjid, which is one of the oldest mosques in the UAE.
“The old masjid will be well preserved and protected, making the premises a blend of ancient and modernity,” Dr Al Ahbabi said.
