The Maldives government on Tuesday awarded development of the King Salman mosque in capital Male to Turkish company Alke-Turmaks for USD 24 million (MVR 370 million).
Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Dr Mohamed Muizzu stated at a press conference held at the ministry that the project, which aims to construct the largest mosque in the Maldives to date, will be completed in August 2018.
According to Muizzu, the mosque can host 6,000 worshipers inside its main structure. Marble flooring outside the mosque will accommodate an additional 4,000 people.
Minister Muizzu declared that King Salman mosque will have all the features necessary to enhance Islam and religious unity in the Maldives, including many of the resources available in the Islamic Centre in Male, which is currently the largest mosque in the nation.
Facilities in King Salman mosque will include:
Multi-purpose hall
Auditorium
Centre for Holy Quran
World-class library
Seminar halls and classrooms
The housing minister added that Turmaks, which is also the contractor for Tree Top Hospital being developed in the reclaimed suburb of Hulhumale, is the company that submitted the best bid for the project.
The project is financed by free aid from Saudi Arabia. The kingdom’s monarch, King Salman, is scheduled to visit the Maldives this month on his official five-nation Asia tour. Sources pin his arrival date at March 18.