Khaberni - Minister of Awqaf, Islamic Affairs, and Holy Places, Mohammad Al-Khalayleh, confirmed that the cumulative number of mosques in the Kingdom has reached 7,650 mosques, spread across all provinces, including 2600 prayer areas where Friday prayers are not held.
Al-Khalayleh added during the financial committee's discussion of the draft public budget bill, on Sunday, that the number of Islamic centers has reached 60; Quran centers 1400, Sharia schools 3, scientific councils 4, families benefiting from the Zakat Fund 3700 families, and the number of orphans sponsored through the Zakat Fund 2500 orphans, and the number of preachers holding degrees "Bachelors - Masters - PhD" 3400 preachers.
He revealed that the Department of Awqaf in Jerusalem consumes 20% of the Ministry of Awqaf's budget, allocated for paying the salaries of the employees, amounting to 750 employees, in addition to care and maintenance matters.
He pointed out that the government has allocated an amount of 14 million and 653 thousand in current expenses for the Jerusalem Awqaf Department, from the Ministry of Awqaf's budget for the financial year 2026.
He mentioned that the number of digital services in the ministry has reached 79 services, and work is ongoing on digitizing the remaining services, to ensure providing better and faster services for the citizens, within the government's direction towards automating all its services.
He emphasized that the ministry is looking to end the rental payment of the ministry's building, through a tender for the land adjacent to the rented ministry building valued at 2 million and 800 thousand dinars, especially since the ministry has paid rent for the building, equal to purchasing and constructing buildings not just one building.
Minister Al-Khalayleh spoke about the Ministry of Awqaf renting lands to foreign investors, and there will be new foreign investment projects that provide job opportunities.
