All about the Al Noor Mosque in Sharjah
With a unique design based on traditional Ottoman-style architecture, Al Noor Mosque is an iconic destination in Sharjah. Located on Sharjah corniche, it was the first mosque in the emirate to open its doors for non-Muslim visitors. The cascading domes and towering Ottoman-style minarets make it a point of interest for those interested in learning more about Islamic culture and history. Whether you’re visiting the mosque alone or with friends and family, here’s what you need to know about the Al Noor Mosque in Sharjah.
ALL ABOUT THE AL NOOR MOSQUE SHARJAH
Built under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed al Qasimi, Al Noor Mosque is a place of worship that can accommodate at least 2,200 people. There is a special ladies’ section, which can host around 400 women.
Tourists from all parts of the world visit the grand mosques in the UAE to appreciate their architectural grandeur and know more about Islam and its history. In 2014, the Al Noor Mosque created a Guinness World Record for housing the “World’s largest wooden charity box.” This was a part of the mosque’s donation campaign for the holy month of Ramadan.
If you are interested in Islamic culture, Emirati history and heritage, planning a visit to Al Noor Mosque should be at the top of your things to do in Sharjah list.
THE ARCHITECTURE OF AL NOOR MOSQUE SHARJAH
Opened in the year 2005, Al Noor Mosque is one of the few mosques in the emirate that has a structure inspired by the Ottoman style architecture. The two towering minarets and cascading domes represent the old Turkish style architecture. Each minaret is 52 metres tall and the central dome is visible from a distance.
You would find many half domes as well as four small cupola domes on the corners. The dome interiors are decorated beautifully as well with intricate calligraphy of verses from the Holy Quran. A combination of interlaced patterns, floral and geometrics are used to make the interiors more appealing. The arched doorways, windows and ornamental repetitive floral cornices at the edge of the mosque’s roof add even more elegance to the design. The prayer area is huge with big open spaces divided with arches, colonnettes and pillars.
Al Noor Mosque in Sharjah closely resembles the iconic Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey.
You can spend hours looking at the mosque and marvelling at its magnificence. On a sunny Sharjah day, the two minarets and thirty-four domes in the backdrop of blue skies look absolutely majestic.
THINGS TO DO
The free mosque tours in English operated by the Sharjah Centre for Cultural Communication are informative and educational. The speakers talk about the design of the mosque along with Islamic and Emirati traditions. The origin of the culture and heritage you observe in the UAE is also explained. At the end of the session, visitors can ask any questions that they may have. This is followed by a complimentary Arabic coffee.
Overlooking the Khalid Lagoon, Al Noor Mosque is one of the most beautiful tourist spots in Sharjah. The ideal time to visit the mosque is before sunset. You can see the incredible butterfly garden as well as the art installations in Al Noor Island which is just across the water. After the sunset, you can take a few pictures with the mosque lit up beautifully in the background.
AL NOOR MOSQUE TIMINGS
Al Noor Mosque’s timings are as follows:
- Public visits: Monday and Thursday starting from 10:00 am
- Private visits: Sunday – Thursday upon booking via the Sharjah Culture Website
HOW TO GO TO AL NOOR MOSQUE FROM DUBAI?
You can either take a taxi to get to Al Noor Mosque from Sharjah or travel via a bus. The taxi fare would be AED 100 to AED 120 so a much cheaper option is the bus. You can take bus E307 from the Deira City Centre Bus Station and travel to Jumbo – Sharjah for around AED 20. From there, you can walk to the mosque easily.
AL NOOR MOSQUE RULES & REGULATIONS
When visiting the Al Noor Mosque Sharjah, you have to follow certain rules.
- Wear modest and conservative clothes.
- Women have to wear headscarves before entering the mosque. Scarves are available at the mosque registration area.
- Shoes are not allowed inside the mosque.
- Registration is necessary prior to entry.
- Only tour guides and tour companies registered with the mosque are allowed to accompany tourists.
- You don’t have to pay for Al Noor Mosque Tickets
Whether you are resident or a tourist, you will certainly enjoy a visit to the Al Noor Mosque in Sharjah. To appreciate the real beauty and the splendour of the place, you have to see it in person.
If you are fascinated by history, religion and architecture, you might be interested in the four amazing mosques tour in Sharjah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi. If you are only visiting Sharjah, the Sharjah Mosque is also equally impressive.
