المملكة: The project to develop mosques under the auspices of the Crown Prince .. A historical shift that enhances urban identity

His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince, Prime Minister, launched a project to develop historical mosques in 2018, in order to preserve the Saudi urban identity, and the participation of the Kingdom’s culture and cultural heritage with the countries of the world.

A team of experts and specialists in heritage buildings worked to restore 30 mosques of value and importance at the level of the regions of the Kingdom, with interest in the unique architectural nature of each mosque, and the achievement of the two elements of originality and integration.

The project is numbers

30 mosques were restored in the first stage.

150 million riyals, the cost of the first stage.

100 mosques under restoration and development.

10 AH, the date of the establishment of one of the oldest mosques to be developed.

First stage business

The work of the first stage took place during the period from 2018 to 2020 AD, and included the development of 30 historical mosques and their rehabilitation, the restoration of its urban originality and the preservation of its historical value in 10 different regions in the Kingdom.

The work in the first stage of the project was not limited to the restoration of historical mosques, but an important architectural practice represented a reference for development and construction work for modern mosques, and to provide them with vocabulary and architectural details that express an extension phase of traditional architecture.

The inauguration of the second stage

On July 12, 2022, the Crown Prince inaugurated the second phase of the Prince Mohammed bin Salman project for the development of historical mosques, which aims to rehabilitate and restore 130 historical mosques in various regions of the Kingdom.

The second phase of the historic mosque development project includes 30 historical mosques distributed in the 13 regions of the Kingdom, with 6 mosques for the Riyadh region, 5 mosques in the Makkah Al -Mukarramah region, 4 mosques in the Medina region, 3 mosques in the Asir region, two mosques in the eastern region, and the same in Al -Jouf, Jizan, and one mosque in both the northern borders, Tabuk, Al -Baha, Najran and Hail.

The mosques were chosen according to their importance in terms of historical and heritage, whether they are linked to the prophetic biography, the Islamic caliphate, or the history of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Specialized Saudi companies

His Highness, may God protect him, directed the implementation of the second phase of mosques by Saudi companies specialized in heritage buildings with experience in their field, with the importance of involving Saudi engineers to ensure the maintenance of the authentic urban identity of every mosque since its foundation.

The inauguration of His Highness for the second stage of the historical mosque development project comes after the completion of the first phase that was launched at the beginning of the project in 2018, which included the rehabilitation and restoration of 30 historical mosques in 10 regions at a cost of approximately 50 million riyals, and with a capacity of the worshipers, which was approximately 4,400 worshipers.
While the age of the largest historical mosque in the first stage reached 1432.

4 strategic goals

The Prince Mohammed bin Salman project for the development of historical mosques starts from 4 strategic goals, which is summarized in the rehabilitation of historical mosques for worship and prayer, the restoration of urban originality of historical mosques, highlighting the civilizational dimension of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and enhancing the religious and cultural position of historical mosques.
It also contributes to highlighting the cultural and civilizational dimension of the Kingdom, which focuses on Vision 2030, by preserving the authentic urban characteristics and benefiting from them in developing modern mosques design.

Mosques that were restored in the second stage

The mosque is Jawatha

The Jawatha Mosque, which was built in the seventh year of migration, is located in Al -Ahsa Governorate in the Eastern Region, between Islamic history and the authentic urban heritage, to become today one of the mosques of the second phase of the Prince Muhammad bin Salman project to develop historical mosques.

It is the second mosque in which the Friday prayer in Islam was prayed, after the first Friday witnessed by the Prophet’s Mosque – may God bless him and grant him peace – in Medina, and one of the mosques that is characterized by its architectural style, internal arches, fighters, windows and doors.

The construction of the Jawatha Mosque dates back to Bani Al -Qais, who established the mosque after their second benefit from the Messenger of God -may God’s prayers and peace be upon him -, while Jawatha was the capital of the ancient city of Hajar during the emergence of Islam.
The mosque is very close to the architecture of the Prophet’s Mosque -may God bless him and grant him peace -and contains 3 corridors, and a division linked to various climates throughout the year, and is characterized by its proximity to its architectural elements of the human scale, which will be kept by the development project.

The Prince Mohammed bin Salman project for the development of historical mosques in its second phase is developing the construction of the Jawatha Mosque, which has an area of ​​205.5 square meters, and its capacity reaches 170 worshipers before and after development, on the architectural style of the eastern region that suits the nature of the coastal region and its hot climate that requires the quality of ventilation through windows, openings, balconies and the capacity of Afia.

Tribal Mosque

The tribal mosque is in the middle of the neighborhood of Manfouha, one of the oldest neighborhoods of the city of Riyadh, and its age dates back to more than 300 years, as it was built in the year 1100 AH, then the unified king Abdulaziz bin Abdul Rahman Al Saud – may God bless him – ordered his rebuilding in the year 1364 AD, which is the closest mosque for the emirate’s palace.

The area of ​​the tribal mosque, before the restoration, is estimated at 642.85 square meters, while after the development it will reach 804.32 square meters, and its capacity reaches 440 worshipers after the completion of its maintenance work.
The mosque architecture is characterized by the Najdi style, which uses building techniques with mud and employing natural materials, and is known for its ability to deal with the local environment and the hot desert climate, while the formation of Najdi model elements is a reflection of the requirements of local culture.

Bone Mosque

One of the mosques of the second phase of the Prince Muhammad bin Salman project to develop historical mosques, the Orthopedic Mosque in Al -Ula Governorate, Madinah, which dates back to the era of prophecy, as it is likely that the Prophet – may God’s prayers and peace be upon him – is the one who determined his kiss with bones, during his way to the Battle of Tabuk in the ninth year of migration.

The reason for its name is due to this story, so that the project preserves the history of this mosque and its Islamic heritage, which dates back to more than 14 centuries, and provides ways to take care of it.

The mosque will be renewed in the heritage style of Medina, on an area of ​​773.34 square meters, and upon capacity, 580 worshipers are sufficient.
The project will rebuild it using natural materials of clay, stones and local trees. The mosque was built with stones and its inner walls with mud.
The building of the mosque has gone through several stages, to our present era.