Riyadh: The historic Qalaa Mosque in the town of Al-Hinakiyah, northeast of Madinah, is among the places of worship undergoing restoration as part of a national project.
The second phase of the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Project for the Development of Historic Mosques focuses on preserving the building, which is over a century old, in Madinah’s historical architectural style, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.
The initiative aims to enhance the Islamic heritage of the Kingdom as the land where the Qur’an was revealed, and the location of the Two Holy Mosques.
The project will expand the mosque’s area from 181 sq. meters to 263 sq. meters to accommodate 171 worshippers. The mosque was previously unused, the SPA added.
The renovation will include the use of natural materials including clay and local wood, to ensure the mosque returns to its original form.
It will preserve the unique building techniques that are adapted to the local environment and hot desert climate.
The crown prince’s project aims to balance traditional and modern construction standards to ensure the sustainability of historic mosques, the SPA reported.
Saudi Arabia companies and engineers specializing in heritage restoration are leading the work.
Phase two of the crown prince’s project follows the successful completion of phase one in 2018, which restored 30 mosques in 10 regions across the Kingdom.
