World’s First 3D-Printed Mosque Enters Sacred Architecture
World’s First 3D-Printed Mosque was inaugurated in March 2024. The world witnessed a milestone in both technology and spiritual design: the opening of the Abdulaziz Abdullah Sharbatly Mosque in Jeddah—the very first mosque constructed using 3D printing. This momentous event marks a turning point where innovation meets tradition in the realm of sacred architecture.
The Story Behind the World’s First 3D-Printed Mosque
Named in memory of prominent equestrian businessman Abdulaziz Abdullah Abbas Sharbatly, the mosque took shape through the vision of his widow, Wajnat Abdulwahed, CEO of Fursan Real Estate. Construction, supervised by the National Housing Company under Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Municipal, Rural Affairs & Housing, was completed in just six months, with the inauguration held on 6 March 2024.
Distinctive Minarets and Inspired Outdoor Area in World’s First 3D-Printed Mosque
The minarets of the Mosque were designed to make it a distinctive landmark within the neighborhood. The open outdoor area’s design drew inspiration from Hijr Ismail beside the Kaaba in the Grand Mosque, serving as an extension for worshippers outside the mosque during Friday prayers, Taraweeh prayers during Ramadan, and Eid. These unique details make the Abdulaziz Abdullah Sharbatly, World’s First 3D-Printed Mosque, a truly iconic structure and the first of its kind in the world.
Merging Tradition with Technology
Located in Jeddah’s Al-Jawhara neighborhood, the mosque occupies around 5,600 m² and showcases Hejazi architecture, rooted in regional tradition. The innovative use of four 3D printers—manufactured by China’s Hangzhou GuanLi Company—enabled the rapid construction of walls, domes, and intricate details. The outdoor layout draws inspiration from Hijr Ismail (Hateem), adjacent to Mecca’s Grand Mosque, weaving cultural and spiritual symbolism into the site planning.
The Advantages of 3D Printing
3D printing brings several compelling benefits:
- Speed: A full-scale mosque erected in just six months—remarkable compared to traditional timelines.
- Precision & Complexity: The 3D process allows for highly detailed and geometrically complex forms that might be prohibitively labor-intensive with traditional methods.
- Material Efficiency: Layer-by-layer construction holds potential for waste reduction and efficient resource use. While not explicitly quantified in this case, these are recognized advantages of the technology.
Beyond practicality, World’s First 3D-Printed Mosque embodies a symbolic bridge—leveraging modern tools to craft a space steeped in spiritual and architectural heritage.
Architecture That Honors Heritage
Despite its cutting-edge method, the mosque remains deeply respectful of its cultural context. The Hejazi architectural language—featuring proportions, ornament, and spatial rhythm typical of the region—anchors the structure in local history. It stands as a tribute not only to a beloved figure—the Sharbatly family—but also to the broader narrative of Islamic art and form.
Implications for Global Religious Architecture
This project sets a precedent: a sacred structure built through 3D printing, opening new pathways for places of worship worldwide. Interestingly, it debuted a year ahead of a projected 3D-printed mosque planned in Dubai for 2025. The potential is vast—offering opportunities for faster, cost-effective, and architecturally evocative religious buildings across contexts and geographies.
Linking Faith with Saudi Vision 2030
This mosque also ties directly to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 agenda, which emphasizes sustainability, advanced technology, and global innovation. Completed in just six months, the project showcases how 3D printing can reduce construction timelines while maintaining cultural authenticity and structural strength. The rapid execution reflects how future urban projects may evolve in the Kingdom—combining speed, sustainability, and heritage preservation.
Challenges and Considerations
Abdulwahed noted that the foremost challenge faced during the construction was the use of 3D printing technology, as it is a new, complex, and highly precise technique that creates a real building from a computer file. The work and execution had to be carried out in a completely different manner than traditional methods, which required careful consideration during the building design. It was essential to maintain the essence that the World’s First 3D-Printed Mosque must embody while adhering to general conditions such as emphasizing the values of the King Salman Urban Charter, incorporating architectural details from the cultural heritage of Hejazi architecture, and presenting them in a contemporary format.
