Located in the western area of the Najran region, the ancient Al-Zubair bin Al-Awwam Mosque is scheduled to be renovated under the second phase of the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Project for the Development of Historical Mosques. The project will renovate the mosque and preserve its modern building features after it was subjected to restoration operations that used non-authentic materials, bringing the mosque to its original style of the Najran region. The construction of the mosque, which was built in the year 1386 AH on an area of 1436 square meters, and a capacity of 1000 worshipers, relies mainly on traditional building methods in which horizontal piles are used, and it is roofed with traditional wood extracted from the trunks and fronds of palm trees and Tamarix or Sidr trees. The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Project will develop Al-Zubair bin Al-Awwam Mosque—the first in the old popular market area in Najran—using the same natural materials used in its original construction. The project will maintain its shape according to a unique construction style. The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Project for the Development of Historical Mosques will ensure historical preservation and restore the aesthetic elements of the Al-Zubair bin Al-Awwam Mosque, which has been subjected to multiple restorations using modern materials. The renovation process will replace the modern features used in previous renovations in the mosque. It will restore its heritage features, while the minaret, which contains an internal staircase and windows and represents local construction, will preserve its conical structure that allows buildings to resist climatic conditions. The Al-Zubair bin Al-Awwam Mosque is one of 30 mosques that the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Project will renovate in its second phase in all 13 regions of the Kingdom, including six mosques in Riyadh, five mosques in Makkah, four mosques in Madinah, three in Asir, two in each of the Eastern Region, Al-Jouf, and Jazan, and one mosque in each of the Northern Borders Region, Tabuk, Al-Baha, Najran, Hail, and Al-Qassim. The first phase of the project, completed earlier, included the renovation and restoration of 30 historical mosques in 10 regions. The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Project for the Development of Historical Mosques serves four strategic objectives: restoration of historical mosques for worship and prayer, restoration of the urban authenticity of historical mosques, highlighting the cultural dimension of Saudi Arabia, and enhancing the religious and cultural status of historical mosques. The project contributes to highlighting the cultural and civilizational extent of the Kingdom as one of the pillars of the Saudi Vision 2030 by preserving authentic urban characteristics and utilizing them to contribute to the development of modern mosque designs.
