Egypt's Islamic Cultural Center

30°00′06″N 31°45′17″E / 30.0017°N 31.7547°E / 30.0017; 31.7547ArchitectureTypeMosqueStylemodern Islamic Egyptian styleCompleted2022SpecificationsCapacity135,000Dome(s)1 (world's heaviest dome)Minaret(s)2

Egypt's Islamic Cultural Center, which houses Masjid Misr or the Grand Mosque, is a religious and architectural landmark located in the New Administrative Capital in Cairo Governorate, Egypt.^[1] The center covers an area of 250,000 square meters, and can accommodate 131,000 people.^[2] Furthermore, the cultural center managed to obtain three international certificates from the guiness world record. ^[1] The titles won include: the largest pulpit handcrafted from wood and standing at a towering 16.6 meters in height, and the chandelier managed to win itself two titles for the largest with a diameter of 22 meters and the heaviest chandelier weighing an impressive 50 tons. ^[1]

History

In 2015, the concept for Egypt's purpose-built New Administrative Capital was introduced.^[3] In 2019, the Al-Fattah al-Aleem Mosque and a church were the first buildings finished.^[4] Early in 2021, plans to build Masjid Misr, a larger mosque, were announced; work was finished in 2022.^{[5] [6]} Egypt's president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi formally launched the Islamic Cultural Centre in March 2023.^[7]

Architecture

Situated near the Presidential Axis, Route 11, and People's Square to the north, the center is conveniently located in the Governmental District. It is situated on a plateau that is 24 meters high and has the Mohamed Bin Zayed Northern Road as its southern boundary.^[8] The Grand Mosque, a library, an Islamic museum, a conference center, ceremonial halls, classrooms, retail stores, and a seven-story parking structure with room for 3,000 cars are all part of the complex.^[9][10]

Egypt's Grand Mosque draws influence from the scenery of the Nile Delta to combine modern design features with traditional Islamic architectural aspects. The outside design of the mosque is modeled after a lotus blossom in bloom, signifying purity and the advancement of spirituality. Inside are calligraphy, intricate geometric designs, and other elements of Islamic creative culture.^{[citation needed]}

The mosque is surrounded by two minarets that rise 140 meters above the top courtyard and contains six halls, including the central prayer hall.^[10] The steel center dome measures 29.5 meters in diameter.^[11] This mosque broke three records: it features the largest chandelier in the world, measuring 22 meters in diameter, the heaviest chandelier, weighing 24,300 kg, and the tallest pulpit in the world, standing at 16.6 meters.^[11] With 12,000 seats in the main prayer hall, 40,000 in the upper hall, and 55,000 in the basement hall, the 19,000 square meter mosque can hold 107,000 worshipers.^[7]

The mosque has two levels, with three main entrances and a fourth for services. The first level is 20 meters high, while the second level reaches the pinnacle of the dome at 57 meters.^[12] There are separate domes for the east and west halls as well. The mosque's secondary and upper courtyards are connected by service buildings and a commercial culture center.^[7]

See also

• List of largest mosques
• Islamic architecture

References

AlexandriaCairo and
Greater CairoOther places