Mosques Built by RCRC

The Royal Commission for Riyadh City always combines worldly and the religious aspects in its development programs in such a way that reflects integrity between religion and life. Therefore, the mosques everywhere in Riyadh city and Riyadh region, actually represent prominent landmarks as they observed the relevant Islamic regulations without sacrificing the local architectural style.

Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque

For decades, the mosque played a key role as the Grand Mosque of Riyadh and a venue where scholars and learners meet. As part of Qasr Al-Hukm Development Program, the RCRC rebuilt the mosque on its original location over an area of 16,800 m²to accommodate about 17,000 worshippers, and opened it in Sha’ban, 1413H (January 1993).

Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque consists of a main prayer area for men and another for women, and a 4,800-m²courtyard used for prayers too. At the rear part of the courtyard, there are wooden beamed ceilings that bear the lighting units and amplifiers. Two 50-meter high minarets rise at the northern and southern sides of the Mosque and feature traditional architectural designs. Other facilities of the Mosque include two 325-m²libraries, one for men and the other for women.

The Mosque’s primary construction elements include prefabricated concrete units. The exterior walls and upper sections of the interior walls are covered with Riyadh Limestone, while the lower portion of the interior walls and the columns are lined with white marble. Triangular precepts beams and textured ceiling slabs provide an appearance similar to the wooden Mashrebiya used in the ceiling covering the old mosque. The Mosque is equipped with television and radio live broadcast facilities, as well as remotely controlled TV cameras.

Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque is directly connected to Qasr Al-Hukm Palace by two bridges that extend across Assafah Square at the level of the first floor.

The mosque won Agha Khan Award for Architecture, 1415H – 1995. The jury of the Award said that the design of Imam Turki bin Abdullah mosque, known as the Grand Mosque, ‎follows a style that can significantly contribute to the improvement of future designs of ‎mosques. The jury hailed the innovative design of the project, particularly the use of the ‎traditional spatial features of the unique local architectural design of Najd region. These ‎elements and features are incorporated without completely copying them. The jury of the ‎Award added that the Mosque is located in the middle of a group of public buildings in the area ‎in complete harmony with the surrounding urban fabric without imposing itself and standing as ‎a separated structure.

Sheikh Muhammad bin Ibrahim Mosque

Based in Qasr Al-Hukm District, Sheikh Muhammad bin Ibrahim Al Asheikh Mosque is one of the historical mosques in Riyadh that served as a beacon of knowledge for long decades. The RCRC reconstructed it on its original location over 9000 m². It has a prayer place for men and another for women, in addition to a nave, and a portico. It also hosts offices of the Committee for the Command of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice. The mosque has a maintenance facility, commercial shops, a library, and parking areas.

The RCRC was keen on achieving harmony between the different element of the Mosque including the lighting system, external plazas, passageways, shaded seating areas, and parking lots.

The Mosque functionally integrates with other four development programs carried out by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City in the district, i.e. Souq Al-Zall Development Program, High Court Headquarter, Penal Court Headquarter, and Dukhna Square.

King Abdulaziz Mosque

This mosque was first built as part of Al-Murabba’ Palace Complex, established by king Abdulaziz, may Allah have mercy upon him. Its traditional design survived until the RCRC decided to reconstruct it as part of its program to develop King Abdulaziz Historical Center in 1419H (1998).

The development program included a complete makeover of the mosque, which was rehabilitated comprehensively and equipped with service utilities and walls to blend with the architectural theme of all facilities of the Center.

The Mosque’s capacity increased to 5,000 people over an area of 5540 m².

King Abdulaziz Historical Center and its components received King Abdullah II Ibn Al-Hussein Award for Innovation, 1424H – 2004. The jury of the Award chose the Center under the theme of the role of the Arab city in preserving heritage. The Center was selected as a winner out of 182 projects representing 12 Arab nations competing for the Award.

Moreover, King Abdulaziz Historical Center received Prince Sultan bin Salman Award for Architectural Heritage, 1427H – 2006.

The Center also won the International Award for Liveable Communities, 1427H – 2007 and Award of the Organization of Arab and Muslim Capitals, 1428H – 2007.

Al-Midi Mosque

The Royal Commission for Riyadh City built al-Midi Mosque in the eastern section of King Abdulaziz Historical Center downtown Riyadh (King Faisal Road). The 581-m²Mosque was one of the early facilities built using the modern technologies that depend on local pressurized mud bricks and it can accommodate 500 people.

The Mosque’s design matches that of other buildings and installations of King Abdulaziz Historical Center and maintains the traditional elements of the old mosque including the courtyard, minaret stairs and other local aesthetical aspects.

The mosque was opened in Sha’ban, 1425H (September, 2004) and won the Award of the Organization of Arab and Muslim Capitals (1428H – 2007) under the theme of municipal service projects.

Imam Muhammad bin Saud Mosque

The Royal Commission for Riyadh City reconstructed Imam Muhammad bin Saud Mosque in Addiriyah Governorate over an area of 50,000 m²to accommodate about 4900 people. It was opened in Rajab, 1419H (October, 1998). The Mosque has external green areas, and seating areas for families and hikers, in addition to an office for the Committee for the Command of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice and parking areas.

It was first established during the First Saudi State and Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdulwahhab used to deliver his lessons there, which made it a beacon of Salafism.

Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdulwahhab Mosque

The Royal Commission for Riyadh City reconstructed Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdulwahhab Mosque, which dates back to the First Saudi State. Based in Addiriyah Governorate, the Mosque earned its reputation thanks to the religious lectures that sheikh Muhammad bin Abdulwahhab used to deliver there. Students used to come to learn in this mosque from Riyadh, Al-Oyaiynah, Huraimlaa and Araqah.

The Mosque was reconstructed according to the traditional architectural styles of Historical Addir’iyah, and contained internal prayer area, courtyard, and green spaces overlooking Wadi Hanifah.

Mosque of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Staff Housing Complex

The Mosque of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Staff Housing Complex is one of the most metropolitan prominent mosques carried out by the RCRC. The total area of the Mosque is 1010 m²and it can accommodate more than 1000 people.

The mosque, as part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Staff Housing Project, received the Award of the Arab Ministers of Housing and Construction for the unique design of the ‎complex and its successful demonstration of the cultural and environmental characteristics of ‎its urban structure. These characteristics reflect social, cultural, educational and recreational ‎needs. The complex also preserves the privacy of its residents through mixing environmental ‎profiles and providing modern facilities essential for a sustainable and prosperous residential ‎community.

Diplomatic Quarter Mosque

Based in western Riyadh, the Diplomatic Quarter Mosque falls in the vicinity of Al-Kindi Plaza over an area of 5830 m², and it can host 5000 worshippers. The Mosque won “Mosque Construction Symposium Award” offered by King Saud University in Shawwal 1417 (February, 1997).

The diplomatic quarter itself, won the Arab Cities Award for Architecture, ‎1410H‎ (1990) in Morocco, and Agha Khan Award for Architecture, 1410H (1990‎).

King Abdulaziz Mosque at Al-Kharj

The 11000-m²Mosque falls in the heart of the highly populated Commercial Sector at Al-Kharj and accommodates about 2,300 worshipers. The mosque contains a main prayer area for men and another for women in addition to a courtyard covered with marble and decorated with palm trees. Furthermore, the building contains a library, Quran school, a residence for Imam and Moazin, public plaza, and parking area. The building was also equipped with two 38-meter-high minarets.

King Abdulaziz Mosque at Al-Kharmah

The total area of the project is 3360 m², including Imam and Mo’azin residence, 1,030-m²prayer hall for men, prayer hall for women, external courtyard, and a hall for teaching Quran. The project also has service utilities that include bathrooms for men and women and funeral room.

The inner walls and roof has openings that provide natural lighting during the daytime. The mosque could be reached through the external courtyard, which has three entrances overlooking the surrounding streets. At the borders of the 605-m²courtyard, there are woman prayer area, hall for teaching Quran, guard residence, water closet and warehouses. The courtyard is furnished with palm trees that provide worshipers with shade and add an aesthetical touch to the place.

Prince Turki bin Ahmad Al-Sidiri Mosque at Al-Ghat

The new building of Prince Turki bin Ahmad Al-Sidiri Mosque at Al-Ghat Governorate, 230 km from Riyadh, is near to original location of the Mosque that was demolished due to serious damages. Throughout its construction phases, the Mosque received special attention from HRH prince Sultan Bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, former President of the General Authority for Tourism and Antiquities.

The Royal Commission for Riyadh City was keen on ensuring that the mosque functions optimally and blends with its environs to keep maintenance requirements as low as possible and make its structures as durable as possible, as it falls away from the main industrial centers and markets of construction materials.

The mosque features all local architectural elements of mosques represented in the main prayer area, external courtyard, externally laddered minaret, and other traditional utilities. As for the rest of the functional elements like bathrooms, room for washing the dead, imam office, and stores, they are annexed to the mosque but their entrances are in the required movement direction. The external arenas are equipped with movable umbrellas to provide worshippers during Friday Prayers with. shade. With the umbrellas open, the mosque can accommodate about 2000 worshippers in addition to the women prayer area. All functional elements of the mosque are encircled by a corridor that serves as a pedestrian passageway and creates visual harmony.

Other Mosques

The list of the mosques built by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City includes tens of mosques inside and outside Riyadh city and within the different governorates of the Riyadh Region. These mosques include mosques of Abu Moussa District, Abu Bakr Al-Kharkhi District, Ibn Zahr District, Abu Al-Wafa Al-Bozgani inside the Diplomatic Quarter, Imam Faisal bin Turki, which overlooks Al-Thumairi Street (near Al-Masmak Palace), King Fahd Mosque at Al-Malaz District, Ibn Qaba’ib Mosque near the High Court in Riyadh, and King Saud Mosque in Al-Nasiriyah.