![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/33MCGQCNKLEKOHCOFWGRUHDBDE.jpg?smart=true&auth=b5208a4ba00569c42004183172fb653a19aafa6d50a5948fadeb78b064b2ff23&width=400&height=225)
Excavations around Al Nuri. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PSHR7PGH256KRQ7GTS74JSV2M4.jpg?smart=true&auth=e283f946320046a23439fe3fc5f627c24b32cc6566198b41711679b9ca612d47&width=400&height=225)
The UAE, in co-operation with Unesco, is helping to rebuild Al Nuri Mosque in Mosul.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GRADT3DD7BWQ3GI7WGMSGIQQIY.jpg?smart=true&auth=aa00c2ff7775e7c14874c6bc05ce0f7150a09fee3e9dc9c31d0bbde2b2263788&width=400&height=225)
The mosque and its famous leaning minaret were destroyed by ISIS in 2017 as government forces closed in on the last fighters from the terrorist group that once held much of north-west Iraq. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TUN3KPS4YSYVZ25VBLZ2QTKEKE.jpg?smart=true&auth=862b1625bf7431c4e2acabb07f60cf50d4baeac5045543826f9ff7d2aa52dd41&width=400&height=225)
The mosque was left largely destroyed after the defeat of ISIS. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4P6XVM75K37LCPPUDSEQB2V5EU.jpg?smart=true&auth=f9f373874c49409852f690c512d2136356d2037ba80ba289b0ad6ae80224b0c4&width=400&height=225)
The minaret was also wrecked by the terrorists. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OVNYLMXWMSYQB77Z5V4FOAXI5E.jpg?smart=true&auth=8aebf1068b6960a1877ab5010323ca512c9e3d57ef9995182de12f1e1f7ba6c8&width=400&height=225)
The 45-metre Al Hadba minaret was built 840 years ago. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FBX7JMJYA2JTWN6V7YIEZBIREA.jpg?smart=true&auth=a51005c5be3f86adb0544c886a3b3d63c7aaf9c5fa11ea0f5382cbd9579ccefc&width=400&height=225)
Before its destruction, its distinctive lean gave it its name, which translates as 'the hunchback' in Arabic. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EVLNXDGCDXLZMG52OS5PGZPUQY.jpg?smart=true&auth=ff9e5b936697604b81f9bbc2354427317f5ddd2e0d41e32e6543d2b85db545d2&width=400&height=225)
The UAE pledged $50.4 million (Dh185m) to restore Al Nuri Mosque and the minaret, in addition to providing expertise and support to co-ordinate the reconstruction. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JR6XDS6EKJD7JWOSS7OD25NHWE.jpg?smart=true&auth=46c67bd86256cbdb1daaefbf0ac106a249a8d8228468a12e4245d28d656a2cea&width=400&height=225)
Work on the reconstruction of Al Hadba in December, 2019. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4V7ZZ44NFL3WM647TILAQAL7VI.jpg?smart=true&auth=d8281b456d7143cc87261e9bbb15ddf9594a7d0b1b9236b1dbd2d907fb417ffd&width=400&height=225)
Al Nuri Mosque dome during a snowstorm in Mosul in February 2020. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3MUUC3KX77NYNUZDU4HR6W5LWE.jpg?smart=true&auth=9a8e0945eaac682fc330daf7c1709997033e3d587baf39fcbc1d4114dcdd92d2&width=400&height=225)
An Iraqi worker clears rubble during reconstruction work in December 2019. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LCPRVILNYO7BM55BR454WCAJHY.jpg?smart=true&auth=c0b89a38ceac937468b017051aa48c3ee03ada190df429b9416946c4436b350f&width=400&height=225)
Iraqi prime minister at the time, Mustafa Al Khadimi, tours Al Nuri in 2020. Photo: Iraqi PM Media Office
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VNEHP434V35EGZOTQARQE5XI44.jpg?smart=true&auth=a3b627b694458809b45087279d681d25bceaf244f8e441e5f2d67b444ad87a7e&width=400&height=225)
Tourists visit Al Nuri in April 2022. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HCIVQVOLV22UJL4GIDGYMUGVAY.jpg?smart=true&auth=5a7b4c3c42cc55ea6576cbdf821a09a504d2915a058dd778b9d2db1e87ee62ac&width=400&height=225)
An aerial view of the Al Nuri mosque complex during a dust storm in June 2022. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WJH7HRTXXVIXMSBEKIVSBEDQBE.jpg?smart=true&auth=f443e71e663b738b9e881011d158353e53953add88c9b26e2bc3fc900223501e&width=400&height=225)
Renovation work on the mosque as seen through a doorway. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NK4VACOQQ5CHYZZ3TR3BHCE5YI.jpg?smart=true&auth=0c160a5d22fba539547c723395d7bece5f67918e92f620732279fc7d95c087da&width=400&height=225)
A labourer working on the monuments of Al Nuri in January 2022. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WQECJQMYSZBFYF4F7K7NH3DDTI.jpg?smart=true&auth=d571cad50f75c3af245b5a2da0a1ef6ee55194edf7665d565e9c9dbe9c4c27de&width=400&height=225)
Restoration work at the mosque. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/33MCGQCNKLEKOHCOFWGRUHDBDE.jpg?smart=true&auth=b5208a4ba00569c42004183172fb653a19aafa6d50a5948fadeb78b064b2ff23&width=400&height=225)
Excavations around Al Nuri. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PSHR7PGH256KRQ7GTS74JSV2M4.jpg?smart=true&auth=e283f946320046a23439fe3fc5f627c24b32cc6566198b41711679b9ca612d47&width=400&height=225)
The UAE, in co-operation with Unesco, is helping to rebuild Al Nuri Mosque in Mosul.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GRADT3DD7BWQ3GI7WGMSGIQQIY.jpg?smart=true&auth=aa00c2ff7775e7c14874c6bc05ce0f7150a09fee3e9dc9c31d0bbde2b2263788&width=400&height=225)
The mosque and its famous leaning minaret were destroyed by ISIS in 2017 as government forces closed in on the last fighters from the terrorist group that once held much of north-west Iraq. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TUN3KPS4YSYVZ25VBLZ2QTKEKE.jpg?smart=true&auth=862b1625bf7431c4e2acabb07f60cf50d4baeac5045543826f9ff7d2aa52dd41&width=400&height=225)
The mosque was left largely destroyed after the defeat of ISIS. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4P6XVM75K37LCPPUDSEQB2V5EU.jpg?smart=true&auth=f9f373874c49409852f690c512d2136356d2037ba80ba289b0ad6ae80224b0c4&width=400&height=225)
The minaret was also wrecked by the terrorists. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OVNYLMXWMSYQB77Z5V4FOAXI5E.jpg?smart=true&auth=8aebf1068b6960a1877ab5010323ca512c9e3d57ef9995182de12f1e1f7ba6c8&width=400&height=225)
The 45-metre Al Hadba minaret was built 840 years ago. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FBX7JMJYA2JTWN6V7YIEZBIREA.jpg?smart=true&auth=a51005c5be3f86adb0544c886a3b3d63c7aaf9c5fa11ea0f5382cbd9579ccefc&width=400&height=225)
Before its destruction, its distinctive lean gave it its name, which translates as 'the hunchback' in Arabic. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EVLNXDGCDXLZMG52OS5PGZPUQY.jpg?smart=true&auth=ff9e5b936697604b81f9bbc2354427317f5ddd2e0d41e32e6543d2b85db545d2&width=400&height=225)
The UAE pledged $50.4 million (Dh185m) to restore Al Nuri Mosque and the minaret, in addition to providing expertise and support to co-ordinate the reconstruction. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JR6XDS6EKJD7JWOSS7OD25NHWE.jpg?smart=true&auth=46c67bd86256cbdb1daaefbf0ac106a249a8d8228468a12e4245d28d656a2cea&width=400&height=225)
Work on the reconstruction of Al Hadba in December, 2019. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4V7ZZ44NFL3WM647TILAQAL7VI.jpg?smart=true&auth=d8281b456d7143cc87261e9bbb15ddf9594a7d0b1b9236b1dbd2d907fb417ffd&width=400&height=225)
Al Nuri Mosque dome during a snowstorm in Mosul in February 2020. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3MUUC3KX77NYNUZDU4HR6W5LWE.jpg?smart=true&auth=9a8e0945eaac682fc330daf7c1709997033e3d587baf39fcbc1d4114dcdd92d2&width=400&height=225)
An Iraqi worker clears rubble during reconstruction work in December 2019. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LCPRVILNYO7BM55BR454WCAJHY.jpg?smart=true&auth=c0b89a38ceac937468b017051aa48c3ee03ada190df429b9416946c4436b350f&width=400&height=225)
Iraqi prime minister at the time, Mustafa Al Khadimi, tours Al Nuri in 2020. Photo: Iraqi PM Media Office
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VNEHP434V35EGZOTQARQE5XI44.jpg?smart=true&auth=a3b627b694458809b45087279d681d25bceaf244f8e441e5f2d67b444ad87a7e&width=400&height=225)
Tourists visit Al Nuri in April 2022. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HCIVQVOLV22UJL4GIDGYMUGVAY.jpg?smart=true&auth=5a7b4c3c42cc55ea6576cbdf821a09a504d2915a058dd778b9d2db1e87ee62ac&width=400&height=225)
An aerial view of the Al Nuri mosque complex during a dust storm in June 2022. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WJH7HRTXXVIXMSBEKIVSBEDQBE.jpg?smart=true&auth=f443e71e663b738b9e881011d158353e53953add88c9b26e2bc3fc900223501e&width=400&height=225)
Renovation work on the mosque as seen through a doorway. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NK4VACOQQ5CHYZZ3TR3BHCE5YI.jpg?smart=true&auth=0c160a5d22fba539547c723395d7bece5f67918e92f620732279fc7d95c087da&width=400&height=225)
A labourer working on the monuments of Al Nuri in January 2022. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WQECJQMYSZBFYF4F7K7NH3DDTI.jpg?smart=true&auth=d571cad50f75c3af245b5a2da0a1ef6ee55194edf7665d565e9c9dbe9c4c27de&width=400&height=225)
Restoration work at the mosque. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/33MCGQCNKLEKOHCOFWGRUHDBDE.jpg?smart=true&auth=b5208a4ba00569c42004183172fb653a19aafa6d50a5948fadeb78b064b2ff23&width=400&height=225)
Excavations around Al Nuri. AFP
Iraq's Al Nuri Mosque: hope arises from its ruins
Destroyed three years ago, the reconstruction of this historic monument speaks of the spirit of collaboration and the triumph over terror
National Editorial
20 June, 2020
- Listen In English
- Listen In Arabic