Replica of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque to Be Inaugurated in Indonesia Next Month
The Indonesian town of Solo is set to get its own replica of Abu Dhabi’s iconic Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque next month.
Once opened, the mosque will be able to accommodate 10,000 worshippers at a time, Husin Bagis, Indonesian Ambassador to the UAE, told Gulf News.
“The mosque is located in the hometown of Indonesia’s president, Joko Widodo, and is another visible symbol of the friendship between our two nations,” Bagis said.
The ambassador was speaking ahead of the G20 Leaders Summit, which is set to be held in Bali next month, and to which the UAE has been invited as a guest.
The Indonesian replica is smaller than the Abu Dhabi mosque, which can accommodate 40,000 worshippers, but like its counterpart, it too is being built to embody Islam’s message of peace and tolerance. The mosque also features a similar white façade, as well as architecture that draws attention to the beautifully rounded domes and shapely corridor arches.
Bilateral relations between Indonesia and the UAE have only strengthened in recent years.
The UAE named a street in the capital’s Embassies Area as President Joko Widodo Street, and is also constructing a mosque in the area to be named after the Indonesian leader.
There is also an ongoing initiative place more Indonesian imams to lead prayers at mosques across the UAE.
“The expected target is 200 imams by the end of 2022. Currently, the number of priests who have served here is 41,…with 29 more imams arriving in mid-October,” the envoy said.
Source: gulfnews.com
