In order to ensure that nobody ever forgets his 33-year reign ex-President Ali Abdullah Saleh inaugurated the enormous Al-Saleh Mosque in 2008. Costing around US$60 million to build and holding around 40,000 worshippers it’s the biggest mosque in Yemen and the only one in Sana’a open to non-Muslims. Opposite As-Saba’in Park, the mosque is undoubtedly overwhelming, (its minarets are so big they have aeroplane warning lights mounted on them!) if a little tacky. Despite some mumbling about how the money could have been better spent on hospitals and schools, most Yemenis are quite proud of the mosque. It’s open to non-Muslims from dawn to dusk daily outside of prayer times – dress appropriately and take a travel permit with you as it’s not unknown for the guards to ask to see one.
