Al Fateh Grand Mosque

The Al Fateh Grand Mosque is a significant Islamic shrine in Bahrain's capital city of Manama. The mosque, which is one of the world's largest, was erected by the late Sheikh Isa ibn Salman Al Khalifa and named after Ahmed Al-Fateh, also known as Ahmed ibn Muhammad ibn Khalifa, the founder of modern-day Bahrain. The name Al-Fateh means "opening" or "conqueror" in Arabic, which makes the mosque a "conqueror" in the sense that it captivates every visitor to the little country. Al Fateh Grand Mosque, which was officially opened in 1988, is 100 meters (330 feet) long, 75 meters (246 feet) broad, with four domes and two minarets made completely of concrete and fiberglass.

The National Library of Bahrain, which has been placed here since 2006, has an official capacity of 7,000 worshipers who come here for prayers or to learn something new. The massive dome that is erected on top of the mosque is perhaps one of the most intriguing aspects. It is made completely of fiberglass, making it the world's biggest fiberglass dome.

The lavish inside is ornamented with marble imported from Italy, individually blown glass for the many lanterns in Austria, and teak imported from India, which was then carved locally to create the grand doors that stand 6 meters (20 feet) tall. A stunning ring of 3-meter (10-foot) high calligraphy in a very old style known as Bahrain fills the circumference of the ring beam, beneath which four stone arches extend down to the floor to form the main square, which is another imposing feature beneath the interior dome.

The Library itself houses over 7,000 books, some of which are over a century old, including copies of Prophet Muhammad's teachings, known as Hadith, the Global Arabic Encyclopedia, the Encyclopedia of Islamic Jurisprudence, Al-Azhar journals from more than a century ago, and numerous periodicals and magazines. Fortunately, there are tour guides that provide tours of the mosque in several languages, sharing intriguing aspects about the architecture as well as important information that tourists need to know. Overall, the Al Fateh Grand Mosque is one of the most important icons of Manama and Bahrain, and it is an experience that should not be missed even if you have already visited Bahrain.

Address: 6H9X+H6F، Awal Avenue Corner Al Fatih Highway، Manama, Bahrain