Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim Mosque, Gibraltar

The Ibrahim‑al‑Ibrahim Mosque was a generous gift from the late King Fahd of Saudi Arabia. It’s an oasis of serenity and architectural artistry. Its façade faces south toward the Strait of Gibraltar, offering sweeping views of the Mediterranean Sea with Morocco visible in the distance. The elegant design features marble imported from abroad, a single ornate dome, and a towering 71 metre‑high minaret capped with a six-metre brass crescent.

The construction began in 1995 and took two years, costing approximately £5 million, before its official inauguration on 8 August 1997. It holds the distinction of being the southernmost mosque in continental Europe and one of the largest mosques in a non-Muslim country.

Inside, the mosque contains six classrooms, a conference hall, a library, a kitchen, administrative offices, the imam’s residence, caretaker’s suite, and even a morgue. The main prayer hall on the second floor is particularly awe-inspiring: richly adorned with marble-clad columns, a large woven carpet, and nine solid brass chandeliers-one of which, weighing around two tonnes, hangs beneath the towering central dome.

Although the mosque primarily serves Gibraltar’s Muslim community-around 4 percent of the population-it remains open to all visitors during daylight hours, providing a peaceful space to appreciate the spiritual and cultural dimensions of the building.