Mosque of Namazgah — Attraction in Tirana Municipality

Visiting the still under-construction Namazgah Mosque (Albanian: Xhamia e Namazgjasë; English: Mosque of Prayer) in Tirana offers a glimpse into what will soon be a significant cultural and religious landmark in the Balkans. The mosque is also known as The Great Mosque of Tirana (Albanian: Xhamia e Madhe e Tiranës).

Despite a construction delay of over four years, with plans originally set for completion in late 2019, the structure already makes a striking impact on Tirana’s skyline. The mosque’s aesthetic appeal is undeniable; its large, elegantly designed domes and towering minarets, each 50 meters in height, command attention and admiration.

Even though the mosque is not yet open for worship, its presence is felt strongly in the city, located near pivotal government buildings and cultural landmarks such as the Pyramid of Tirana, the majestic River Rana, and historic Tanners' Bridge. The juxtaposition of the mosque’s modern Islamic architecture with these surroundings enriches the urban tapestry of Tirana, making the area a compelling stop for both locals and tourists.

The construction of the Namazgah Mosque is a response to the pressing need for larger worship facilities in Tirana. Currently, the city has only eight mosques, a significant decrease from the 28 present in 1967. The existing facilities, including the Ottoman-era Ethem Bey Mosque which can only accommodate 60 people, are insufficient, especially during Islamic holidays when worshippers spill into Skanderbeg Square.

Once completed, the mosque will not only cater to 5,000 worshippers inside but will also facilitate large gatherings in its compound, supporting an additional 5,000 people. This capacity is critical in a city where rain can disrupt the important Friday sermons. Furthermore, the mosque complex will house a cultural centre, a library, a conference hall, and educational facilities offering Quranic and Turkish language courses, positioning it as a hub of religious and cultural education.

Financed in part by Turkey’s Diyanet and backed by significant political and cultural symbolism, as highlighted during Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit for its groundbreaking ceremony in 2015, the Namazgah Mosque is poised to become not just a religious centre but a beacon of the shared heritage and future aspirations between Albania and Turkey.

Visitors to Tirana, therefore, should not miss observing the progress of the Namazgah Mosque, which stands as a testament to Albania’s rich cultural diversity and its ongoing urban transformation. Even in its incomplete state, it is a monument of grandeur and promise, a splendid addition to the city’s historic and...

Incredibly beautiful religious building. Love the symmetry in the architecture. The largest mosque in the Balkans.

After the fall of communism in Albania, in 1991, Muslim Albanians often complained about being discriminated against. While two cathedrals (Eastern Orthodox and Catholic) were built, as of 2016 Muslims in Albania still had no central mosque and had to pray in the streets. In 1992, then president, Sali Berisha, laid the first stone of the mosque to be constructed near Namazgah square, close to the Albanian parliament. Construction was delayed after the speaker of parliament, Pjetër Arbnori, contested the plans.

The decision of building the mosque was taken in 2010, by then mayor of Tirana, Edi Rama. The building of the mosque is considered necessary because there are only eight mosques in the city, down from 28 in 1967. During Islamic holidays, the Skanderbeg Square is filled with Muslim worshipers, because the Ottoman-era Et'hem Bey Mosque, currently Tirana's principal mosque, has a capacity of only 60 persons. Rain makes Friday sermons impossible.

Construction of the new mosque was launched in 2015 with the financing of 30 million euros ($34 million) partly coming from the Presidency of Religious Affairs of Turkey, Diyanet. In 2015, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan visited Albania for the inauguration ceremony of the mosque.

The mosque was officially opened on October 10, 2024, in a ceremony at which the Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Albanian prime minister Edi Rama delivered speeches. The mosque is expected to increase tourism and will replace the Et'hem Bey Mosque in the city center as the...

My first time this evening (2/725 @19:00hrs), as an Irish catholic tourist to enter a mosque. Whilst inside, I took a photo of my wife and child, who were on the upper balcony (as females have to be separate entering a mosque). Whilst doing this, I took out my phone to take a picture and I must have this dropped a fold of money (circa €60-€80). After taking the photo, I realised I dropped my cash. I turned around, and a balding man with a 6-7 yr old child was busy picking it up and then said it was his!! Absolutely unbelievable! I asked twice again and he said ‘he didn’t understand’ (I spoke in English). He immediately denied it, whilst placing the cash into his wallet, and nonchalantly walked away in his bare feet. A devout Muslim?! May god help him if he was that desperate. A nice enough mosque but what an awful experience, after asking twice….! I then walked down the road to the Catholic ‘Mother Theresa’ afterwards…. My first and last time in a Mosque! A place of worship with my wife and daughter watching from above! I suppose it was the fact this happened in a ‘Holy place’ (and so blatant). Extremely disrespectful and very disappointing! Maybe I’m just...