Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim Mosque

The Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim Mosque at Europa Point is hard to miss and worth the visit even if you did not come specifically to see it. The white marble structure, with its two minarets and central dome, sits at the very tip of the Gibraltar peninsula facing south across the Strait toward Morocco, and the combination of setting and architecture makes it one of the most photographed buildings in Gibraltar. The mosque was a gift from King Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia, inaugurated in 1997, and named after his father Ibrahim. It is designed to accommodate around 1,000 worshippers and is considered one of the larger mosques in Western Europe in terms of capacity. The design draws on classical Andalusian Islamic architecture, appropriate given Gibraltar's proximity to Spain and its own eight centuries of Moorish history. The building is open to non-Muslim visitors outside of prayer times, and the interior is worth seeing. The main prayer hall has a high domed ceiling and the light through the windows creates a calm, quiet atmosphere. Visitors are asked to remove shoes at the entrance and dress modestly, shoulders and knees covered for both men and women. The staff are welcoming of curious visitors who approach respectfully. Standing outside the mosque and looking south across the Strait is one of Gibraltar's better moments for perspective. Morocco is visible clearly on most days, and the geography makes it immediately obvious why this particular point was significant across many centuries and many different cultures. The Phoenicians, Romans, Visigoths, Moors, and British all understood this headland as a place of particular importance. There is no entrance fee. Combine your visit with the Europa Point Lighthouse and the Shrine of Our Lady of Europa for a short tour of the point that covers three very different landmarks within a ten-minute walk.