Minister of Islamic Affairs Dr. Ahmed Zahir has stated that the government is waiting on the government of Saudi Arabia to determine the official opening date of King Salman Mosque.
Responding to questions at the Parliament, Minister Zahir highlighted that the Saudi government is scheduled to participate in the opening of King Salman Mosque. He said that Saudi officials visited the Maldives to discuss the opening date but the plan was disrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He said that the Saudi government has since informed that it will determine the opening date.
King Salman Mosque was unofficially opened to the public for prayers on April 1, 2022. The mosque is a donation by the King of Saudi Arabia Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud and was designed and constructed by Turkish contractor Alke-Turmaks. The mosque is designed to accommodate 4,000 worshipers at once and showcases Islamic culture and heritage.
The mosque is built to six storeys, with the ground floor dedicated to ablution and the first and second floors dedicated to prayer congregations. The third floor includes four classrooms, five seminar rooms, an Islamic library, and an administrative office, while the fourth floor includes an auditorium for seminars and conferences. The fifth floor is being developed as a multi-purpose hall that can be utilised for religious sermons as well as prayers.