Cafe owners asked to clear Carnival area to build mosque

Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure has sent notice to café owners who run their businesses in Alimas Carnival area to vacate the area as the ministry prepares to build a mosque there.

An official from Housing Ministry told “Sun” on Sunday that some of the cafes have been served six-month notice while others have been served four-month notice.

The six-floor mosque to be built in the area will be the largest in Maldives – a gift from Saudi Arabian King, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on occasion of 50 years of independence celebrated by Maldives last year.

It will accommodate 6,000 people.

The decision to build the mosque was announced in a ceremony held at Hotel Jen on February 24.

The mosque will include a library, Quran center, multi-purpose hall, meeting hall, classrooms, parking zones, four elevators.

A 41,500 square foot area will be allocated for prayer alone.

The mosque is to be named in honor of the Saudi king.

Government has not yet released when the construction will start, or the value of the project.