Al-Nuri Mosque and Al-Hadba Minaret

The Great Mosque of al-Nuri was founded in the twelfth century by Nur al-Din Zangi, and its minaret, al-Hadba, the hunchback, leaned several metres out of true and had done so for centuries, becoming the emblem of Mosul and appearing on the Iraqi banknote. Both the mosque and the minaret were destroyed in 2017. From 2018 a UNESCO-led programme funded largely by the United Arab Emirates rebuilt them, using recovered original brick where possible and reconstructing the minaret with its historic lean rather than straight, a decision that was debated and settled in favour of the form people remembered. The end of the reconstruction was marked on the minaret in November 2024, the mosque has reopened for worship, and its official opening was held on 1 September 2025. Work on the mosque, the minaret and neighbouring churches ran together as one project for the old city.

What's there

• The rebuilt minaret - al-Hadba reconstructed with its historic lean.
• The mosque courtyard - the congregational plan restored on its old lines.
• Recovered brickwork - original material reset into the new fabric.
• The old city around - reconstruction across the whole quarter.

When to go

October to April; Mosul summers are severe. The mosque had its official opening in September 2025 and is again a working place of worship, so current information on visiting is essential before travelling.

Before you go

What stands is reconstruction, and the debate over rebuilding the lean rather than a straight minaret is part of the site's story. Areas of the old city remain under works and access varies.

Nearby

Nineveh lies across the river; the old city surrounds the mosque.