Riyadh, March 26, 2023, SPA – The Al-Khidr Mosque, which has stood for more than 700 years, is one of the oldest mosques in Jeddah Governorate's Al-Balad neighbourhood. The mosque is included in the second phase of the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Project for the Development of Historical Mosques. The project aims to restore the mosque as an architectural masterpiece while adding updates to accommodate modern architectural developments. The aim is to maintain the beautiful fronts of the mosque and its indigenous architectural elements, such as rocks, bricks, and wood.
The project will renovate the Al-Khidr Mosque, increasing its area to 355.09 square meters after the completion of the development. This will accommodate 355 worshippers. The architectural style of the western region is characterized by enduring the natural conditions surrounding the coast, while historical mosques are architectural masterpieces reflecting an elaborate construction culture. Wood has been a prominent element in mosques since the early 14th Hijri century, with mosques enjoying simply designed fronts.
The Al-Khidr Mosque is one of 30 historical mosques across the Kingdom's 13 regions included in the second phase of the project. The mosques include six in Riyadh, five in Makkah, four in Madinah, three in Asir, two in each of the Eastern Region, Al-Jauf, and Jazan, and one mosque in each of the Northern Borders Region, Tabuk, Al-Baha, Najran, Hail, and Al-Qassim.
The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Project for the Development of Historical Mosques serves four strategic objectives: restoration of historical mosques for worship and prayer, restoration of the urban authenticity of historical mosques, highlighting the cultural dimension of Saudi Arabia, and enhancing the religious and cultural status of historical mosques. The project also contributed to highlighting the cultural and civilizational extent of the Kingdom as one of the pillars of the Saudi Vision 2030 by preserving authentic urban characteristics and utilizing them to contribute to the development of modern mosque designs.
--SPA
19:43 LOCAL TIME 16:43 GMT
0021