Seyitjan Kari Esjanuly Mosque

In the spring of 2024, a new mosque opened in Shymkent, built with the generous support of philanthropist Serikjan Seitzhanov, who dedicated the mosque to his father, Seyitjan Esjanuly.

The Seyitjan Kari Esjanuly Mosque is striving to set two Guinness World Records: for having the largest dome in Central Asia and the tallest mihrab (the niche in the wall that indicates the direction to Mecca). The main dome has an impressive diameter of 56 meters, while the mihrab stands tall at 36 meters. The mosque also features four minarets, each towering at 63 meters—symbolizing the age of the Prophet Muhammad.

The mosque’s design dazzles with its pristine whiteness, as it is constructed from white marble and granite. Clearly inspired by the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi, the Shymkent mosque bears a striking resemblance to its Emirati counterpart, though it is somewhat smaller in scale.

Designed to accommodate 12,000 worshippers, the mosque’s capacity is further extended by an open plaza in front of the building, where an additional 10,000 people can gather. To protect the faithful from both the intense heat and rain, large canopies have been erected, equipped with fans for the summer and dehumidifiers for the rainy season.

Inside the mosque, there are separate prayer halls for men and women, a dining hall, a wedding hall, an underground parking lot, an educational center, a library, and even a fitness center.