Tajikistan is now home to the Central Asian largest mosque, dwarfing the Turkmenbashi mosque in neighboring Turkmenistan, which can hold 10,000 people.  Critics say the mosque is an extravagance and that the money would be better spent on poverty reduction.

The government has endorsed the act of the state commission on commissioning of Dushanbe Central Mosque.  They have reportedly spent for construction of the mosque US$8.3 million less than it was originally planned.  

By Government’s decree the Committee for Architecture and Construction under the Government of Tajikistan “will bring this facility onto its balance sheet.” 

The state commission says 91.7 million U.S. dollars have been spent for the construction of this mosque, which is 8.3 million U.S. dollars less than it was originally planned.    

The estimated budget for construction of this mosque was 100 million U.S. dollars; 30 million U.S. dollars have reportedly been allocated by the Government of Tajikistan and the remainder has been provided by Qatar.  

According to the state commission’s act, construction of the mosque began in December 2011 and was completed on December 1, 2019.

Qatar’s DAR Investment & Development L.L.C was the general developer and Tajikistan’s STS-Inshoot was general contractor.

Besides, seven sub-contractors have participated in construction of this mosque.  

Everyone is waiting for opening of the Dushanbe Central Mosque, which is expected to be Central Asia’s largest mosque.

Several thousand builders have been engaged in construction of this mosque.

President Emomali Rahmon began construction of this mosque not far from downtown Dushanbe in October 2011, a month after officially raising the country’s flag on the world’s tallest unsupported flagpole in Dushanbe.

The mosque is expected to be able to accommodate more than 100,000 worshipers.  Tajikistan is now home to the Central Asian largest mosque, dwarfing the Turkmenbashi mosque in neighboring Turkmenistan, which can hold 10,000 people.  Critics say the mosque is an extravagance and that the money would be better spent on poverty reduction.