Al Ain Municipality commissions redevelopment of Sheikha Salama Mosque

The commission comes under the instruction of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler and President of the United Arab Emirates and Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. The Mosque, which will be named the Sheikha Salama Mosque, is expected to be completed in 2009 and will be located adjacent to the central souk.

The Municipal Council has assigned ALDAR to design and supervise the development of the project to ensure that the Sheikha Salama Mosque becomes a landmark for Al Ain, and a cornerstone of future development in the city.

The Mosque will combine a contemporary interpretation of traditional Arabic architecture and will reflect the historical and cultural uniqueness of Al Ain. With a simple rectangular layout and a total area of 35,873 square metres, the design includes an extra 1,000 car parking spaces to ensure that future demand is taken in to account. The layout will comprise of square modules punctuated by amply spaced columns and the ceiling will gradually ascend in the direction of Mecca.

The natural stone cladding, granite flooring and abundant light in the completed structure will produce an inner space that communicates the Mosque's exquisite symbolism, whilst the incorporation of lifts will give the new structure a genuinely modern aspect.

Once completed, the new Mosque, which has been designed by architect, Jafar Tukan, will compliment one of the UAE's most natural, picturesque and historical towns. His work with the expanded company 'Jafar Tukan & Partners, Architects & Engineers', has earned him numerous awards, including the Arab Architect Award in 1992, the Al-Madina Award for Architecture in 1997 and the Palestine Award for Architecture in 1999.