El Mina (Al-Mina) Mosque is the great mosque of Hurghada's harbour, a white building topped with domes and flanked by two minarets about 40 metres high, visible from the seafront. According to sources, an earlier mosque dated from 1968; the present building, begun in 2006, opened in 2012 and can hold roughly 9,000 to 10,000 worshippers. It is one of the few mosques in the city that non-Muslim visitors can enter, outside prayer times.
Highlights
The façade and domes
The white building, its domes and minarets dominate the waterfront and can be seen from afar. The best viewpoint is from the harbour promenade at sunset, when the pale stone takes on a golden tint.
The minarets
The two minarets, about 40 metres high according to guides, are the landmark of the mosque and the harbour.
The interior and decoration
Visitors describe a bright interior, with white marble, fine carvings and a large prayer hall. Take your shoes off at the entrance; women must cover hair, arms and legs (a loan garment is sometimes offered for a small sum).
Practical info
Tips
- Entry is free according to guides; a tip to the caretaker who guides you or looks after your shoes is customary but never compulsory. Come between the five daily prayers, whose times change every day (prayer apps or notices on site), and avoid Friday at midday, the day of the main prayer. Short clothing is refused. Do not photograph worshippers at prayer. For context, see the article on El Dahar, the nearby fish market and the scams to avoid (some fake guides offer a paid "tour"). The information comes from travel guides: confirm hours on site.
How to get there
The mosque is on the seafront, near Hurghada's old harbour and marina, in the El Dahar area. Take a taxi from your hotel, agreeing the price before getting in, or a ride-hailing app. The name "El Mina" means "the port".
Opening hours
Our guides that feature it
Nearby
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