Al Bidyah Mosque is a historical mosque located in the emirate of Fujairah. Al Bidyah Mosque is an important historical and cultural landmark in the UAE, and it is visited by tourists and locals alike. Al Bidiya Mosque is located on the road to the city of Dibba Al Fujairah, 35 km to the north of the city of Fujairah.
It is considered the oldest mosque in the United Arab Emirates and one of the oldest mosques in the region, with a history dating back to the 15th century. The mosque is named after the village of Al Bidyah, where it is located.
The mosque has a unique architectural style and is made of stone and mud-brick. It features a prayer hall, a mihrab (prayer niche), a minbar (pulpit), and a courtyard. The prayer hall has three domes supported by four pillars and is decorated with Islamic calligraphy. The pillar supports all four domes that can be seen from the exterior. The internal decoration of the mosque combines stone carvings, openings for ventilation and light, and special shelves to house the Holy Quran. The engineering features are a major accomplishment for the period of construction.
Building of the Mosque
Al Bidiya Mosque is characterized by its unique architectural design and its space management. It was constructed without any timber to hold the roof on the column in the middle. Since no timber was used to raise the roof, a single column in the middle was used to hold the four domes of the Mosque in a magnificent architectural system. Every dome was made up of three domes placed on top of each other. The large dome fit first, then the smaller dome, and a third with a tiny head. These domes are located in close proximity to each other.
How old is the Mosque?
Based on the results of a recent study by the Department of Antiquities and Heritage, Fujairah, in collaboration with the University of Sydney, Australia, through the excavation season of 1997-1998, where samples of organic materials (charcoal) were taken from under the foundations of the walls of the Mosque, showed the chemical analysis showed that Al Bidiya Mosque was built in 1446 A.D.
Renovation of the Mosque
The Department of Antiquities and Heritage renovated and rehabilitated the Mosque as a tourist site in cooperation with the Municipality of Dubai, Department of Historical Buildings, and it was opened by His Highness, Sheikh Hamad Al Sharqi, Ruler of Fujairah, on March 3rd, 2003.
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