Akmeshit Mosque

Akmeshit Mosque, the central mosque of the city of Shymkent and the largest in the Turkistan Province, was completed in 2013. The mosque’s highlight is a tall minaret tower crowned with a massive white dome. The construction was initiated by President Nursultan Nazarbayev, with the support of the President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Akmeshit Mosque is capable of accommodating some eight thousand worshippers and occupies an area of 8.5 thousand square meters. The mosque and the adjacent territory also contain a hall for ritual washing, an imam's house, a large and a small prayer halls, a library, a dining room, and two parking lots.

The mosque’s facade and gates are decorated with Arabic script, calling the name of the Prophet. The main prayer hall is built in the form of a Kazakh yurt, covered with an enormous carpet. All main entrances to the mosque are equipped with comfortable wheelchair ramps.

Parking lots are located on both sides of the mosque, there is also a cozy gazebo with benches for rest. In front of the mosque, visitors will find a small shop selling souvenirs, religious literature, and ritual supplies.

Useful tips for 2021–2022

How to get there

Akmeshit is located on the western outskirts of the city of Shymkent, along the Tamerlane Highway, near the Bekzhan Market. There is a bus stop of the same name located nearby. As this part of the city is quite busy, there are many bus routes going there from all over the city.

Food and accommodation

The mosque contains a dining room catering to both the faithful and tourists. There are also many dining options in the Bekzhan Market.

There will be no problems finding accommodation in Shymkent. There are many roadside inns along the Tamerlane Highway, as this is a part of the international highway connecting Europe and China.