Saudi Arabia’s Al-Duwayd Mosque, A Witness to Historical Structures in Najdi Architecture

Al-Duwayd Mosque is considered one of the oldest mosques in the region. (SPA)

The historic Al-Duwayd Mosque in the archaeological village of Al-Duwayd in Saudi Arabia is considered one of the oldest mosques in the region, spanning an area of 137.5 square meters, the Saudi Press Agency said on Monday.
The mosque is located 20 kilometers east of Al-Uwaiqila Governorate, in the northern border region of Saudi Arabia.
The architecture of Al-Duwayd Mosque, constructed seven decades ago, is distinguished by the Najdi architecture, which features clay construction techniques and uses natural materials to withstand the local environment and the hot desert climate.
The southern side of the mosque’s walls has small windows arranged in a strip line to allow sunlight and reduce cold during the winter, with a low-height ceiling to maintain warmth in the winter.
The historical importance of the mosque is referred to its location in the village of Al-Duwayd, one of the oldest villages and important historical sites in the northern border region. It encompasses about 200 wells that were a water resource for the people living in the desert, and was a meeting point for the merchants of Najd, Iraq and the Levant about seven decades ago.
The village includes the oldest civil airport established in the northern border region and one of the oldest airports in the Kingdom, with its ruins still remaining today.