Maintenance contracts for 1,837 mosques in Saudi Arabia worth 113 million riyals

Million-dollar contracts to serve the houses of God

In a move reflecting the great importance Saudi Arabia places on mosques, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance, under the directives of His Excellency Minister Sheikh Dr. Abdul Latif bin Abdulaziz Al-Sheikh, announced the awarding of a new set of contracts for the maintenance, operation, and cleaning of 1,837 mosques and prayer halls across the Kingdom. The total value of these contracts exceeds 113.5 million riyals, underscoring the ongoing efforts to provide a comprehensive and comfortable environment for worshippers throughout the country.

Historical background and the importance of caring for mosques in the Kingdom

Mosques in Saudi Arabia hold a central place in the social and religious fabric, serving not only as places of worship but also as beacons of knowledge and guidance. This emphasis stems from the Kingdom's historical role as the cradle of Islam and home to the Two Holy Mosques. Throughout history, the Saudi leadership has given exceptional attention to the construction, development, and maintenance of mosques, recognizing their vital importance in the lives of Muslims. These modern projects are part of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which aims to improve the quality of life and enhance services provided to citizens and residents, including religious services, while preserving the Kingdom's rich Islamic identity.

Local and international impact of the project

The significance of these contracts extends beyond the purely financial aspect of maintenance, encompassing social and economic dimensions. Locally, these projects ensure that mosques are fully prepared to receive worshippers, enhancing their comfort and spiritual focus. They also contribute to creating job opportunities for national companies and institutions specializing in maintenance and operation, and stimulate economic activity in the provinces and centers covered by the contracts. Internationally, these efforts reinforce the Kingdom's position as a leader in the Islamic world and showcase a model to be emulated in the care and maintenance of mosques, a fact witnessed by the millions of visitors and pilgrims who come to the Kingdom annually and experience the exceptional level of care provided to places of worship.

Contract details and geographical distribution

The contracts awarded by the ministry included a large number of mosques and prayer halls distributed across different regions and governorates to ensure comprehensive coverage, and their distribution was as follows:

• Riyadh region: This included the maintenance and operation of 50 mosques in the Rmah governorate, 48 mosques in the Tamir center, 78 mosques in the Al-Hariq governorate, 102 mosques in the Al-Dawadmi governorate, in addition to 129 mosques in the Afif governorate.
• Al-Baha region: The contracts included 181 mosques in Al-Mandaq and Bani Hassan governorates, and 123 mosques in Al-Qura governorate.
• Al-Jawf region: A contract was awarded for the maintenance and operation of 201 mosques and prayer halls in Tabarjal Governorate.
• Al-Qassim region: The contracts included 259 mosques in Al-Badai’ Governorate.
• Hail region: The region has 354 mosques distributed across the governorates of Rawdah, Fayd, Al-Shanan, Samira, Baqaa, and Al-Ghazalah.
• Eastern Province: Contracts were awarded for 153 mosques in the governorates of Qaryat Al-Ulya and Al-Nairiyah.
• Madinah region: The contracts included the maintenance and operation of 159 mosques and prayer halls.

The Ministry of Islamic Affairs affirms that these projects are an extension of its ongoing plans to raise the efficiency of operation and maintenance, and to apply the highest quality standards, in line with the directives of the wise leadership to serve the houses of God in the best possible way.