Imam Turki bin Abdullah Grand Mosque | |
Native Name: | جامع الإمام تركي بن عبد الله |
Native Name Lang: | ar |
Map Type: | Saudi Arabia |
Map Size: | 220px |
Map Relief: | yes |
Religious Affiliation: | Sunni Islam |
Location: | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
Festivals: | --> |
Organizational Status: | --> |
Architect: | Rasem Badran |
Founded By: | Turki bin Abdullah Al Saud |
Year Completed: | 1826–1830 (original) 1992 (restored) |
Date Destroyed: | --> |
Capacity: | 17,000 worshippers |
Interior Area: | 16,800 m2 |
Elevation Ft: | --> |
Imam Turki bin Abdullah Grand Mosque, also known as the Grand Mosque of Riyadh,[1] [2] is a Friday mosque in the ad-Dirah neighborhood of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, located adjacent to al-Hukm Palace compound. It was established in the period 1826–1830 during the reign of Turki bin Abdullah Al Saud. The mosque was rebuilt in 1992 in modern Najdi architectural style. Seating 17,000 worshippers and measuring 16,800 m2, it is one of the largest mosques in Saudi Arabia.
The exterior and upper portion of the interior is primarily brown Arriyadh Limestone which appears golden when lit up at night. The lower portion of the interior is in white marble. The structure includes separate men's and women's libraries of 325-m2 each.
The mosque is directly connected from the first floor to al-Hukm Palace via two bridges across as-Safaat Square.
The mosque was rebuilt in 1992 on the site of a previous grand mosque, that was built sometime between 1826 and 1830 during the reign of Turki bin Abdullah bin Muhammad al-Saud.
A Grand Mosque existed on the site for decades but was rebuilt by the Arriyadh Development Authority and reopened in January 1993.
The minarets of the mosque previously featured a mix of Ottoman and Egyptian styles, with two rectangular sections topped by three rounded sections and a top section coming to a point with round shapes atop it. The courtyard porticos rose in a triangular with decor above. The minarets were however rebuilt in rectangular neo-Najdi style, the courtyard completely resurfaced and the porticos are now a modernized version of their former shape.[3]