Digital Editions
Newsletters
Subscribe
Digital Editions
Newsletters
Art market
Museums & heritage
Exhibitions
Books
Podcasts
Columns
Technology
Adventures with Van Gogh
Art market
Museums & heritage
Exhibitions
Books
Podcasts
Columns
Technology
Adventures with Van Gogh
Museums & Heritage
news

Africa's largest mosque officially opens in Algeria

The inauguration of the nearly $900m building has been delayed since 2020

Chinma Johnson-Nwosu
28 February 2024
Share
The 869ft minaret now makes the mosque the second tallest building in Africa

Photo: Askelaadden via Wikimedia Commons

The 869ft minaret now makes the mosque the second tallest building in Africa

Photo: Askelaadden via Wikimedia Commons

The Great Mosque of Algiers has opened in the Algerian capital after seven years of construction. With space for 35,000 worshippers in its large prayer hall and 120,000 visitors in total, it will now be the largest mosque in Africa (a title once occupied by the Hassan II Mosque in Morocco) and the third-largest mosque in the world.

The building was designed by German architects KSP Engel, constructed by the state-owned Chinese firm China State Construction Engineering and is said to have cost $898m. The project was initiated by the former president Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who resigned in 2019 following protests against him for seeking a fifth term after 20 years in power. Its high cost—and the former president's initial plan to name it after himself—has led to criticisms of the building as a vanity project.

The building was initially slated to open in 2020 but due to delays, reportedly owing in part to the Covid-19 pandemic, it has been inaugurated four years later under the new president, Abdelmadjid Tebboune.

Boasting a minaret which stands at 869 ft (the tallest in the world), the mosque is also now the second tallest building in Africa. The building is located a few kilometres from the historic town centre and is situated in a vast complex which is set to include shops, restaurants, libraries, museums and apartments.

The largest mosques in the world are located in the Islamic holy cities of Medina and Mecca.

Museums & HeritageAlgeriaMosques
Share
Subscribe to The Art Newspaper’s digital newsletter for your daily digest of essential news, views and analysis from the international art world delivered directly to your inbox.
Newsletter sign-up
Information
About
Contact
Cookie policy
Data protection
Privacy policy
Frequently Asked Questions
Subscription T&Cs
Terms and conditions
Advertise
Sister Papers
Sponsorship policy
Follow us
Instagram
Bluesky
LinkedIn
Facebook
TikTok
YouTube
© The Art Newspaper

Related content

Heritagenews
12 September 2015

Mecca’s collapsing crane was part of a criticised building boom

Saudi Artist Ahmed Mater has captured the rampant redevelopment around the Islamic holy place

The Art Newspaper
Museums & Heritagenews
24 August 2020

First Hagia Sophia, now Turkey's 'Sistine Chapel of Byzantium' will be turned back into mosque

The 14th-century mosaics at Chora Church—which was converted to a museum in 1945—risk being covered up and remaining part-restored

Gareth Harris
Museums & Heritagenews
10 July 2020

Hagia Sophia will be mosque again, Turkish president Erdogan says

The controversial decision is likely to set off a storm among cultural heritage officials

Helen Stoilas