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UAE Lays Foundation for Sheikh Zayed Mosque & Cultural Centre in Chad

The foundation stone has been laid for the Sheikh Zayed Mosque and Cultural Centre in N'Djamena, Chad, following a 2025 bilateral agreement. The project, directed by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, is being implemented by the UAE Aid Agency. The mosque will span 5,000 square meters and accommodate up to 10,000 worshippers, featuring a library and religious school. The adjacent Cultural Centre will include classrooms and multipurpose halls aimed at fostering cultural dialogue and community development.

Key Points: UAE Builds Sheikh Zayed Mosque & Cultural Centre in Chad

  • Implements 2025 UAE-Chad agreement
  • Follows directives of UAE President
  • Mosque to accommodate 10,000 worshippers
  • Centre to host cultural and educational programs
3 min read

Foundation stone laid for Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Cultural Centre in Chad's N'Djamena

UAE lays foundation stone for major mosque and cultural centre in N'Djamena, Chad, as part of bilateral development agreement and humanitarian legacy.

"This reflects the directives of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to implement diverse development projects - Rashid Saeed Al Shamsi"

Abu Dhabi, January 20

The foundation stone has been laid for the construction of Sheikh Zayed Mosque and Cultural Centre in the Chadian capital N'Djamena.

The construction of the mosque is in implementation of an agreement signed between the UAE and Chad in April 2025 and will be carried out by the UAE Aid Agency in coordination with the Ministry of Finance, Budget, Economy, Planning, and International Cooperation of Chad.

The initiative for the building of the mosque followed from the directives of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and the follow-up of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court.

The stone-laying ceremony was attended by Rashid Saeed Al Shamsi, Ambassador of the UAE to Chad and Eid Saeed Al Ketbi, Director of the UAE Aid Coordination Office in Chad, in addition to the following senior officials from the Government of Chad: Khater Issa, President of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Khater Arja, Special Advisor to the President, and Ahmadou Ibrahim Ahmad, Plenipotentiary Ambassador at the Presidency.

Rashid Saeed Al Shamsi, Ambassador of the UAE to Chad, affirmed that the UAE continues the deeply rooted humanitarian legacy established by the Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, through joint international development efforts and the provision of assistance to communities around the world. "This reflects the directives of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to implement diverse development projects across social, economic, cultural, and infrastructure sectors, in alignment with local needs and the priorities of the Sustainable Development Goals," he added.

Tareq Ahmed Al Ameri, Chairman of the UAE Aid Agency, stated, "The construction of Sheikh Zayed Mosque and the Cultural Centre in N'Djamena reflects the UAE's generous approach to development and service of humanity at large and is done under the supervision of Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development and Martyrs' Families Affairs, and Chairman of the International Humanitarian and Philanthropic Council. The project aims to meet the needs of people, develop communities, and enrich civilisational and cultural dialogue and knowledge exchange."

The Sheikh Zayed Mosque is being constructed on an area of approximately 5,000 square metres and will accommodate 10,000 worshippers, with 5,000 worshippers inside the mosque and 5,000 in the courtyard and surrounding areas. The mosque will include a public library and a religious school for teaching the Holy Quran and Islamic studies.

The Cultural Centre will be built on a dedicated land area of 2,000 square metres and will include 16 classrooms, administrative offices, and multi-purpose halls for lectures, workshops, and cultural activities, in addition to a library. The centre's activities will focus on Iftar programmes, distribution of sacrificial meat, training courses, and joint Emirati-Chadian national events and cultural initiatives.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
While I appreciate the humanitarian gesture, I hope such projects also focus on local skill development and employment. Sometimes these large foreign-funded projects don't involve enough local contractors or workers. The cultural exchange part is excellent though.
V
Vikram M
The scale is impressive – 5,000 sq metres! The inclusion of a public library and Quranic school shows it's about more than just a place of worship; it's about community building and education. Gulf nations are doing a lot of soft power diplomacy through such projects.
S
Sarah B
As someone who has lived in the Gulf, I've seen the beautiful architecture of Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi. If they bring even a fraction of that grandeur to N'Djamena, it will be a landmark. The cultural centre with 16 classrooms could be a real hub for learning.
R
Rohit P
It's heartening to see development aid being channeled into infrastructure that serves both spiritual and practical needs. The iftar programmes and distribution mentioned are very thoughtful, especially in a region that faces challenges. More power to such collaborations.
K
Karthik V
Good initiative. Hope the cultural centre truly promotes dialogue and isn't one-sided. Cultural exchange should be a two-way street. Chad has a rich history and culture of its own that should also be showcased and celebrated in such a centre.

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