Together with the President of the United Arab Emirates, Jokowi Inaugurates the Sheikh Zayed Grand

Mosque in Solo

Monday, November 14, 2022 | 11:15 a.m

Reporter: Ratih Waseso | Editor: Herlina Kartika Dewi

KONTAN.CO.ID – JAKARTA. President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) together with President of the United Arab
Emirates (PEA) or United Arab Emirates Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan inaugurated the Sheikh Zayed
Grand Mosque in Surakarta City, Central Java Province, on Monday, November 14 2022.

The Director of Islamic Religious Affairs and Sharia Development of the Indonesian Ministry of Religion
Adib said, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Surakarta City is a miniature of the Sheikh Zayed Mosque
in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

The mosque was built on an area of 3 hectares with a capacity of around 10,000 worshippers.

“This is a grant or gift from the President of the United Arab Emirates to the President of the Republic of
Indonesia, Mr. Joko Widodo,” Adib said in a written statement, Monday (14/11).

Later the mosque will be managed by the Sheikh Zayed Solo Grand Mosque Management Agency which
was formed by the government through the Ministry of Religion and is directly responsible to the
Minister of Religion.

He hopes that the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque can provide real benefits to the community around
Surakarta City, Central Java, and even throughout Indonesia.

“Let’s together prosper the mosque and the existence of the Sheikh Zayed Solo Grand Mosque will
become a new icon in Solo in particular, not only as a center for religious symbols, but also as a center
for new religious tourism destinations in Solo in particular and in Central Java in general,” said Adib.

Before the inauguration this morning at around 06.23 WIB, Jokowi welcomed President MBZ directly on
the plane steps at Adi Soemarmo International Airport, Boyolali Regency, Central Java Province.

Upon arrival at the mosque, President Jokowi and President MBZ first performed the sunnah tahiyatul
prayer at the mosque. Afterwards, President Jokowi and President MBZ signed an inscription as a sign of
the inauguration of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.

The two of them then toured together while reviewing the architecture and facilities and infrastructure
in the mosque. After touring, President Jokowi and President MBZ planted a Sala tree together in the
courtyard of the North Plaza of the Sheikh Zayed Great Mosque.