المملكة: Away from the noise and dangers… requirements for building central mosques and Eid prayer halls

The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance has set urban planning requirements for building and developing mosques in the Kingdom, and has classified mosques into 5 types: “local, Friday, central, Eid, and road mosque.”
She stressed the importance of choosing a location for the local mosque in a residential or commercial area, with an area of ​​750-2800 square meters²To ensure easy access to it on foot, it will serve between 1,500 and 4,000 people from residential groups in residential neighborhoods or commercial areas.
She added: The worshiper’s share ranges between 1.2 – 1.5 m²One of its characteristics is that it allows it to be used during daily prayer times, and it is provided at the level of the smallest urban community. Attention must be paid to the pedestrian paths leading to the mosque, as a parking area and another for pedestrians must be provided.

Choosing the location of the mosque

She pointed out that the location for the Friday Mosque was chosen so that it is adjacent to the carriageway to facilitate access to it, and with an area of ​​2000 – 6000 square meters.²It allows it to be used during daily prayer times in addition to Friday prayers, and it serves between 5 – 20 thousand people.
She continued: The prayer’s share ranges between 1.25 – 1.4 m²Attention must be paid to pedestrian paths in nearby residences where the Jami’ Mosque is closer than the local mosques. Public parking must be provided next to the Jami’ Mosque with an area of ​​no less than 20% of the mosque’s area.
She indicated that the Central Mosque serves the urban areas served by the Friday Mosque at a minimum, as it is located on an area ranging between 4,000 – 30,000 square meters.²It serves between 20 – 100 thousand people, and the worshiper’s share ranges between 1.05 – 1.2 m.².

She continued: The site must provide the possibility of expansion and expansion, taking into account the site’s connection to the public transportation network, and be far from noise, pollution, smoke, and environmental hazards, while providing public parking next to the site with an area of ​​no less than 30% of the area of ​​the prayer hall.
She pointed out the importance of choosing the location of the Eid Mosque, so that it is in a location adjacent to an open space to accommodate the numbers of worshipers during Eid prayers, with an area of ​​4,000 – 30,000 square metres, and that it serves between 20 – 100 thousand people, in the urban areas served by the Grand Mosque as a minimum, and providing public parking. Adjacent to the site, with an area of ​​no less than 30% of the area of ​​the prayer hall.
According to the Urban Planning Requirements Guide, the location of the road mosque must be chosen so that it is aligned with travel routes. It is provided on regional roads and is usually located inside service centers and gas stations “outside the cities.” The area of ​​the road mosque site must not be less than 300 square meters.²It should contain a prayer hall for men and a prayer hall for women.
The guide stressed providing sufficient parking spaces for the mosque, “one parking space for every 20 square metres.” ² From the mosque”, providing access to it by car, and allowing its use during daily prayer times.