The Construction Of The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque In Surakarta Is Already 21 Percent, Gibran Targets Laying The Dome On February 28, 2022

Solo Mayor Gibran Rakabuming Raka and representatives from the Crown Prince Court of the United Arab Emirates Government Muhammed Ali Rasyed (VIA ANTARA)

SOLO - The construction of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Surakarta, Central Java, has so far reached 21 percent. The target is that in August 2022, the construction of this mosque will be completed.

"This meeting was finished and on schedule (according to the schedule). All progress is good, already 21 percent. God willing, August is over, pray for it," said Solo Mayor Gibran Rakabuming Raka on the sidelines of reviewing the construction of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Surakarta, Antara , Monday, January 24.

Furthermore, it is hoped that on February 28, 2022, the dome of the mosque will be laid. "This is according to our schedule, currently the finishing stage. This finishing stage is limited, yes, the work cannot be arranged. Slowly but surely, what is important is timely and neat," he said.

The eldest son of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) believes that the presence of a mosque as a gift from the Prince of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan will have a positive impact on the regional economy.

"Because this is the largest mosque in Solo. Automatically for religious tourism will lift the economy in Solo," he said.

The area is not only a place of worship but also a library. Thus, the public can use the library as a means of education. On the same occasion, the Project Manager of PT Waskita Karya Indra Jaya Kusuma said, in the process of doing so, there have been no obstacles encountered so far. Surakarta City Government also provides maximum support.

"This is still seven months, it must be overtaken because the percentage is actually influenced by weight. Incidentally, the highest weight is in the finishing work, in marble, because marble is expensive. We ordered marble from Italy," he said.

Meanwhile, he said, the mosque covers an area of 2.8 hectares, which reaches 8,000 m2 and the library covers an area of 20 m2.

Meanwhile, at the review, representatives from the Crown Prince Court of the United Arab Emirates Government, Muhammed Ali Rasyed Saeed AlDhaheri, were also present.

The Grand Mosque in Surakarta City is similar to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi. The Grand Mosque can accommodate 10 thousand worshipers while the Mosque in Abu Dhabi can accommodate 40 thousand worshipers.

Apart from being a place of worship, the mosque can also be used as religious tourism. The beautiful shape of the mosque is also equipped with very charming lighting arrangements and quality materials, including high quality brass and copper from Central Java.