Al Noor Mosque - History, Timings & Entry Fee

At a distance of 2 km from Blue Souq, 17 km from Sharjah International Airport and 16 km from Dubai International Airport, Al Noor Mosque is a mosque situated at the Buhaira Corniche in Sharjah. It is one of the most splendid mosques in the city and among the top places to visit in Sharjah during your Dubai - Sharjah Tour.

Al Noor Mosque is one of the most beautiful mosques in Sharjah and the first-ever mosque in the United Arab Emirates to be open to non-Muslim visitors. The Al Noor Mosque was built by the ruler of Sharjah, Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi in 2005. It can house 2,200 people in total for prayer which includes 400 in the ladies section and 1,800 in the men's section. The word Noor in Arabic means 'light' and true to its meaning, Al Noor Mosque stands majestically alongside the Khalid Lagoon on Buhaira Corniche. In 2014, the mosque set a Guinness World Record for the 'World's largest wooden charity box' for their Ramadan donation campaign.

The architecture of Al Noor Mosque is influenced by the classic Turkish Ottoman designs with elements inspired by the Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey. The main entrance is flanked on both sides by 2 graceful minarets which soar into the sky at a height of 52 meters. One of the eye-catching features of the exterior is the elegant cascading domes, of which there are 34 in total. The central dome is surrounded by several half domes and finally at each corner by four small cupola domes. The exterior of the mosque is complemented with ornamental repetitive floral cornices around the edge of the roof and the arched doorways and windows. The interiors of the domes are highly decorated with a combination of floral, geometric and other interlaced patterns. The prayer hall is large and spacious with arches, pillars, and colonettes (small columns) which are intricately decorated.

The mosque visit is free of cost and the visitors are provided with a free one-hour guided tour by the non-profit Sharjah Centre for Cultural Communication. The 45-minute tour informs tourists about the Islamic and Emirati culture and traditions and also briefs the visitor about the detailed design of the mosque. Visitors need to dress moderately that covers shoulders and knees. Remember to bring your camera, as photography is allowed inside the mosque.

Timings: 10 AM on Monday & Thursday for non- Muslims

Entry: Free