This looks stunning.
The Dubai International Finance Centre (DIFC) is the emirate’s answer to New York City’s Wall Street or London’s Canary Wharf – a stomping ground for the financial world’s players.
It’s a hive of frenetic financial activity and already has a number of world-class restaurants headed up by Michelin star chefs, designer offices home to multinational banks and private wealth management companies and also luxury residential units.
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Now though, DIFC has announced it is constructing a Grand Mosque inspired by modern Islamic design.
The 14,500 square foot mosque is located within the newly-constructed Gate Avenue extension of DIFC. The mosque is expected to open next year, and once ready will be open to worshippers 24 hours a day.
As What’s On Dubai has pointed out, the building’s design is a cube within a cube. Inside, there will be an expansive main chandelier inspired by the traditional Muqarnas.
Outside, there is a hanging screen which will use Islamic geometric patterns to creates openings of different sizes. Those openings can be such that it is closed in order to provide shade and privacy to worshippers inside or can be enlarged and opened to allow those on the outside a better view of the Grand Mosque’s interiors.
DIFC Authority chief executive officer Arif Amiri added, “DIFC Grand Mosque, together with the broader world-class offering of Gate Avenue, marks an important addition to the interconnected ecosystem we have at DIFC, and bring a new dimension to the attractive infrastructure we have in place.”
The Gate Avenue extension was a Dhs$1 billion expansion project that aimed to enhance the retail, leisure, and office capacity of DIFC. The 660,000 square feet of built-up area will include over 200, dining, boutique, and retail options and will provide easy access to all areas of DIFC including its residential quarters.
Soon you’ll be able to live, work, play – and pray – all within the self-contained city-within-a-city of DIFC.
Images: Supplied
