Al Maktoum Foundation opens mosque in Rotterdam

ROTTERDAM — A new landmark mosque, built by the Al Maktoum Foundation was opened here on Friday in the presence of leaders of the Muslim community in Europe. The cost of the project has been paid by Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance.

The opening of the Al Salam Mosque was attended by Ahmed Aboutaleb, Mayor of Rotterdam, Ali Thani Al Suwaidi, UAE Ambassador to Netherlands, Mirza Al Sayegh, Director, Shaikh Hamdan’s Office and member of the board of trustees of Al Maktoum Foundation, members of the Foundation’s board of trustees and leaders of the Muslim community.

Dr Hussein Halawa, preacher of the Islamic Centre in Dublin, gave the first Friday sermon in the new mosque, urging Muslims to follow the moderate school of Islam and keep away from divergence.

The mosque, the construction of which took a whole decade, is today the second famous cultural landmark
in Rotterdam after the City Hall Council. The 3,200 square metre mosque offers space for 2,200 worshippers
and has a whole level of the three storeys house of worship dedicated to women.

The mayor of Rotterdam paid tribute to Shaikh Hamdan for presenting this signature edifice to the city of Rotterdam. “The mosque will face tremendous challenges that require solidarity of the Muslim communities in order to build bridges of communications and trust with followers of other faiths,” said Al Sayegh. —