Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt
Mosque in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt
The Al-Sahaba Mosque is one of the most prominent landmarks of modern Sharm el-Sheikh, standing in the Old Market district. Its foundation stone was laid on 10 January 2011 and, after years of construction, it opened on 24 March 2017 at a cost of 30 million Egyptian pounds raised through donations to the Ahbab al-Mustafa charity in Sharm el-Sheikh together with government funding. It is named after the Companions of the Prophet Muhammad and is the second largest mosque in the city after the Al-Mostafa Mosque. The mosque covers 3,000 square metres and blends Ottoman, Mamluk and Fatimid architectural styles so convincingly that Wikivoyage remarks it could be mistaken for a building hundreds of years old. It has two minarets each 76 metres high and numerous domes, and holds more than 3,000 worshippers; the main hall rises 36 metres over 1,800 square metres and seats 800, with an arcade sheltering two further prayer areas, along with service buildings and commercial units that function as an endowment for the mosque. It has become a destination for Muslim and non-Muslim visitors to the Old Market and a convenient place for prayers, especially Friday and Taraweeh, during a resort stay.
The mosque is open for prayer, and the most atmospheric time is after Maghrib, when the minarets and domes are lit and the surrounding Old Market fills with cafes and restaurants. Dress modestly, women should cover their hair and shoes come off inside; avoid walking around during prayers if you are sightseeing. It combines easily with a shopping stroll through the Old Market, about 15 minutes by taxi from Naama Bay.
Hours and prices change — check before you go. Source: en.wikipedia.org
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