The Grand Mosque was built in 1978 with Saudi funding and is one of the largest mosques in Central Africa. The building occupies a prominent position in the southern part of the city and can accommodate thousands of worshippers. Its minarets are visible from a good distance, providing one of the few reliable landmarks in a city where street names are not always helpful for navigation.
Non-Muslim visitors should be respectful about approaching the mosque during prayer times and dress modestly — long trousers and covered shoulders as a minimum. The exterior and courtyard are generally accessible outside prayer hours; entry into the main hall is at the discretion of whoever is present. Friday prayers draw large crowds. Viewed from the street on an ordinary day, the mosque gives a sense of the scale of Muslim community life in N'Djamena, where Islam shapes the rhythm of daily life for most of the population.