Al-Nuri Mosque

About this place

Al-Nuri Mosque is a historic mosque in the Old City of Mosul, whose leaning minaret is famous as al-Hadba. It is the city's main landmark and best-known symbol, so much so that the image of the minaret stands for Mosul itself. New buildings and small gardens now surround it and give the place a calm, tidy look. Nur al-Din Zengi built it in the late 12th century, and the minaret leaned for centuries until its name came from that lean. The mosque and minaret were destroyed in 2017. They were then rebuilt piece by piece under the Revive the Spirit of Mosul project led by UNESCO, and officially reopened on 1 September 2025. You see the tall brick minaret with its geometric patterns on the base, leaning as the people of Mosul knew it, rebuilt partly with its old bricks. Around it are a wide square, a sundial with Arabic calligraphy and the new mosque buildings. This is a place of worship, so keep quiet and avoid prayer times if you are only visiting. It lies west of the Tigris, about 3 km in a straight line from the site of Nineveh, close to the restored lanes of the Old City. Dress modestly, and women should cover their hair on entering. The UK Foreign Office currently advises against all travel to this area, and access may not be possible, so check official guidance before making any plans.