King Faisal Mosque

Photographs by Angie McMonigal (top) and Darren Bradley (bottom)

King Faisal Mosque, Abdul Rahman Abdul Hafidh Al Junaidi, 1987

The King Faisal Mosque was built in 1987 by Saudi architect Abdul Rahman Abdul Hafidh Al Junaidi and is situated in Al Ittihad Park. It was the largest mosque in the UAE until the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque opened in 2007. The mosque features two minarets that each reach a height of approximately 230 feet. Consistent with Islamic design, the King Faisal Mosque has a central courtyard and rows of pillars that create straight, clean lines. In keeping with his minimalist style, Al Junaidi envisioned the mosque strictly as a functional building, opting to omit ornamentation and encourage worshipers to focus on prayer and reflection.