Al-Sheikh: The guidelines represent a qualitative leap and a historic contribution to the mosque construction sector.
Al-Nuaim: The Ministry of Islamic Affairs will supervise a training program on technical guidelines.

In the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Special Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Abdullatif Al-Fozan Award for Mosque Architecture, the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call, and Guidance, Sheikh Dr. Abdullatif bin Abdulaziz Al-Sheikh, inaugurated on Wednesday, the 1st of Rajab 1446 AH, the technical guidelines for building and developing mosques. The Ministry implemented this initiative in collaboration with the Abdullatif Al-Fozan Award for Mosque Architecture during an official ceremony held at the JW Marriott Hotel in Riyadh, attended by numerous dignitaries, officials, and mosque architecture specialists in Saudi Arabia.

The event began with the royal anthem, followed by a recitation of Quranic verses and a documentary film showcasing the technical guidelines for mosque construction and development and the Ministry's efforts in serving mosques.

In his speech at the event, Sheikh Dr. Abdullatif Al-Sheikh emphasized that architecture reflects every civilization and nation's identity. It embodies the depth of its culture, the nobility of its values, and the permanence of its legacy.

He stated that, under the directives of the Kingdom’s leadership, the aim is to achieve a comprehensive renaissance across all sectors, including nation-building and development, through comprehensive planning systems. This includes incorporating sustainable development concepts into urban planning processes to achieve a holistic architectural renaissance in Saudi Arabia, guided by the wise leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Crown Prince.

Sheikh Dr. Abdullatif Al-Sheikh also highlighted the Ministry’s commitment to being an integral part of this significant national project. He stressed its proactive role in complementing the efforts of other governmental bodies to realize the objectives of Vision 2030.

He announced adopting the world's first technical guidelines for building and developing mosques, which align with the Saudi Building Code. These include 12 approved manuals from the National Committee for the Saudi Building Code, covering administrative, engineering, health, operational, and Sharia requirements consistent with the four Islamic schools of thought. He described these guidelines as a groundbreaking and historic contribution to the mosque construction sector, emphasizing their global significance as the first of their kind.

After his speech, Sheikh Dr. Abdullatif Al-Sheikh expressed his gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their continuous efforts in uplifting the nation and serving Islam and Muslims. He also thanked Prince Sultan bin Salman for his support and dedication to initiatives serving humanity and Islamic causes.

Additionally, he thanked the dignitaries attending the event. He gave special recognition to Sheikh Abdullatif Al-Fozan, the founder of the award for mosque architecture, for his generous contributions toward serving mosques.

Following this, Dr. Mashary Abdullah Al-Nuaim, Secretary-General of the Abdullatif Al-Fozan Award for Mosque Architecture, delivered a speech on behalf of Sheikh Abdullatif Al-Fozan. He emphasized the importance of preserving cultural symbols that define the identity of nations, noting that mosques are the most significant symbols reflecting the Islamic identity of societies worldwide. He explained how the Abdullatif Al-Fozan Award has, for the past 15 years, aimed to reestablish the prominence of mosque architecture globally.

Dr. Al-Nuaim added that the award's efforts to launch technical guidelines would significantly transform the culture of mosque architecture worldwide. He praised Prince Sultan bin Salman’s visionary leadership and Sheikh Dr. Abdullatif Al-Sheikh's dedicated support in advancing innovative architectural initiatives. Dr. Al-Nuaim also announced adopting a nationwide training program on these guidelines, supervised by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs in collaboration with relevant experts and institutions.

In his speech, Prince Sultan bin Salman underscored Saudi Arabia's leadership role in charitable endeavors, particularly in mosque construction and development, under the guidance of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The ceremony concluded with the announcement of a training program for the technical guidelines aimed at modernizing mosque development practices. Prince Sultan bin Salman and Sheikh Dr. Abdullatif Al-Sheikh also honored several key contributors to the creation of these groundbreaking guidelines.

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