OVERVIEW
With a unique design based on traditional Ottoman style architecture, Al Noor Mosque is an iconic place in Sharjah. Located in the Sharjah corniche, it was the first mosque in the country to open its doors to non-Muslim guests. The deserted houses and the long minaret of Ottoman style make it an interesting point for those interested in learning more about Islamic culture and history. Whether you are visiting the mosque alone or with friends and family, here is what you need to know about Al Noor Mosque in Sharjah. The UAE is known for being a beautiful Muslim home, a peaceful place of worship that exhibits excellent architecture. Now, the Sharjah Emirate has brought something more to the list – a new mosque in the Al Tay region that can accommodate up to 25,000 people! The Sharjah Mosque replaces the King Faisal Mosque as the largest emirate mosque. Designed in Ottoman style, the new mosque in Sharjah is an architectural beauty and is definitely worth a visit. And it is one of the Sharjah temples that welcomes non-Muslim visitors, too. Check out the new Islamic images of Sharjah and the video below and find out what makes this place of worship so special!
ABOUT
The Al Noor Mosque built under the auspices of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Mohammed al Qasimi, is a place of worship that can accommodate at least 2,200 people. There is a special girls’ section, which can accommodate about 400 women. Visitors from all over the world visit the great temples in the UAE to appreciate their great architecture and to learn more about Islam and its history. In 2014, Al Noor Mosque set up the Guinness World Record to build “the world’s largest wooden box.” This was part of the Islamic charity campaign for the holy month of Ramadan. If you are interested in Islamic culture, Emirati history and heritage, planning to visit the Al Noor Mosque should be at the top of your Sharjah list. The Sharjah Mosque was built in the Ottoman style with the aesthetics of the mosque based on traditional Islamic architecture. The huge prayer hall has a beautiful home roof with intricate Arabic paintings and detailed gold. Meanwhile, a beautiful chandelier with a mihrab (a circular niche in front of the hall showing direction of prayer) gives the Sharjah Mosque its beautiful look!
THE ARCHITECTURE
Opened in 2005, Al Noor Mosque is one of the few emirate mosques with a structure inspired by the Ottoman style architecture. The two tall minaret and the steep houses represent the construction of the old Turkish style. Each minaret is 52 meters long and the central dome is visible from a distance. You can find multi-storey houses and four small cupola houses on the corners. The dome interiors are beautifully decorated and intricate calligraphy of verses from the Holy Quran. The combination of interlocking patterns, flowers and geometry used to make the interior more attractive. Doors made of arches, windows, and folding flowers that adorn the edge of the mosque roof add extraordinary beauty to the design. A large prayer area with large open spaces separated by arches, colonies and pillars. Al Noor Mosque in Sharjah is almost identical to the Muslim Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey. You can spend hours looking at the mosque and marveling at its beauty. On a sunny day of Sharjah, two minarets and thirty-four toilets behind the green sky look very nice.
THINGS TO DO
The free mosque tour in English conducted by the Sharjah Center for Cultural Communication is informative and educational. The speakers talk about the construction of the mosque and the Islamic and Emirati traditions. The UAE’s cultural background and values are also explained. At the end of the session, guests can ask any questions they may have. This is followed by the excellent Arab coffee. Overlooking Khalid Lagoon, Al Noor Mosque is one of the best tourist attractions in Sharjah. The best time to visit the mosque is before sunset. You can see the beautiful butterfly garden and art installation on Al Noor Island just across the water. After sunset, you can take a few pictures with the well-lit mosque in the background.
TIME
Public Visit: Monday and Thursday from 10:00 am, private visits: Sunday – Thursday when booking via Sharjah Culture Website
HOW TO GET THERE
You can take a taxi to Al Noor Mosque from Sharjah or take a bus. The taxi fare can be AED 100 to AED 120 so the busiest option is bus. You can take the E307 bus from Deira City Center Bus Station to Jumbo – Sharjah for about AED 20. From there, you can easily walk to a mosque.
RULES AND PRINCIPLES
When visiting Al Noor Mosque Sharjah, you must follow certain rules. Wear modest, protective clothing. Women should wear handkerchiefs before entering the masks. Scarves are available at the mosque registration center. Shoes are not allowed inside the mosque. Registration is required before login. Only tour guides and registered mosque tourist companies are allowed to accompany tourists. You do not need to pay for Al Noor Mosque tickets. Whether you live or are a tourist, you will definitely enjoy visiting the Al Noor Mosque in Sharjah. To appreciate its true beauty and splendor, you need to see it for yourself. If you are fascinated by history, religion and architecture, you may be interested in the four amazing Muslim tours of Sharjah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi. If you only visit Sharjah, the Sharjah Mosque is equally impressive.
