On 25 Feb 2024, the President of Algeria Abdelmadjid Tebboune revealed the Great Mosque of Algiers ‘Djamaa El-Djazair’ in Algeria. It is Africa’s largest and the world’s third-largest mosque.
Built around a decade, the Great Mosque of Algiers stands as a testament to international collaboration, with Chinese State Construction Engineering and Frankfurt-based architects KSP Engel leading the project.
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Key Highlights of ‘Djamaa El-Djazair’-
- It was completed in 7 years with a cost of $ 898 million.
- The mosque has been built to withstand 9.0 magnitude earthquakes.
- The structure has undergone special treatment to resist corrosion.
- The mini prayer hall features 618 octagonal columns as support pillars and 6 kilometres (3.7 miles) of calligraphic writing engraved using a laser system.
- The prayer hall’s dome is 70m (230 feet) high and has a diameter of 50m (160 feet).
- The mosque has an area of 27.75 hectares (almost 70 acres).
- It includes parking space for up to 7,000 cars.
- It has a helicopter landing pad.
- It also has a library that can hold a staggering one million books.
- The compound of the mosque has the capacity to host 120,000 worshippers.
- It consists of 37 floors.
- It has the world’s tallest minaret, measuring 265m (869 ft).
- It has been built on the Mediterranean coastline of the country.
- It’s hailed as an architectural marvel and a modernist wonder.
History of the Mosque-
Following a groundbreaking ceremony, the first concrete foundation casting operations got underway on 16 Aug 2012.
The project was financed by the Algerian state and its construction lasted for seven years. Originally conceived as a legacy project by former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, the mosque was intended to bear his name, similar to the mosque Hassan ll in Casablanca, Morocco, named after the former king of Morocco.
However, Bouteflika’s tenure was characterised by widespread protests, which led to delays in the project and raised questions about its location and alleged corruption.
The massive scale and high cost of the construction drew criticism. Despite criticism, it was completed on 29 Apr 2019.