PHOTOS: Saudi Crown Prince, Sisi open renovated Al Azhar mosque

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Prince Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman inaugurated on Tuesday the renovated Al-Azhar mosque in Cairo

The renovations took three years following an initiative and a grant by the late Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz.

The development is one of the largest and most extensive restoration work in Al Azhar Mosque over its history of 1,000 years.

The restoration process carried out under the patronage of King Salman bin Abdulaziz included the complete transformation and modernization of Al Azhar mosque infrastructure, including flooring, lighting, water, drainage, ventilation and sound systems in accordance with the latest international standards used in the Grand Mosque in Mecca.

The renovation process took into account the archaeological nature of the mosque.

All the steps were carried out under the full supervision of the Ministry of Antiquities to document the restoration phases inside the mosque.

The initiative of the late King Abdullah was ordered before his death to renovate the Mosque, including the establishment of an integrated residential university for students studying in Al Azhar on an area of 172 acres in Cairo, as well as the restoration of a number of colleges at Al Azhar University.