Sabancı Central Mosque

Overview

The Sabancı Central Mosque stands on the west bank of the Seyhan River in Adana. It opened in 1998, and its six minarets rise 99 meters (325 feet) above the river. Inside, the mosque holds 20,000 people. Its name honors the Sabancı family, who paid for the half of the work that donations did not cover. Although it is a modern building, it follows the classical Ottoman style.

Where the Sabancı Central Mosque stands

The mosque lies in the Reşatbey quarter of Seyhan, just south of Merkez Park. From the old stone bridge, Taşköprü, you can walk along the west bank of the river to its gates.

Quick facts

• Good for: Ottoman-style architecture, river views, a stop between sights
• Best combined with: Taşköprü, the Adana Museum

History of the Sabancı Central Mosque

From Merkez Camii to Sabancı, 1988–1998

Builders laid the foundation on 13 December 1988. First, the Metropolitan Municipality of Adana gave a plot of 65,000 square meters (16 acres) to the Türkiye Diyanet Foundation. The people of Adana paid for half of the mosque with their donations. Hacı Sabancı took on the rest of the cost, and when he died, his family carried on. So the mosque, first planned as the Merkez Camii, or Central Mosque, took the name Sabancı Merkez Camii. In 1998, it opened for prayer. The architect was Necip Dinç.

Inside the Sabancı Central Mosque

An Ottoman design

Necip Dinç chose the classical Ottoman style, so the mosque rests on nine great piers. From outside, it looks like the Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Istanbul. Inside, its plan follows the Selimiye Mosque in Edirne. Above the prayer hall, the main dome spans 32 meters (105 feet).

The courtyard and the domes

Before you enter, you cross a wide courtyard ringed by 28 small domes. Beyond it, four half-domes and five domes step up toward the main dome, and 40 windows ring its base. Together with its portico, the mosque covers 6,600 square meters (71,000 square feet). When the open courtyard fills as well, it can hold 28,000 people.

Numbers with a meaning

Almost every number in the building carries a meaning. The four half-domes stand for the four caliphs and the four schools of Islamic law. Then the five domes recall the five pillars of Islam, while the six minarets stand for the six articles of faith. The 32 meters of the main dome match the 32 basic duties of a Muslim. In the courtyard, the 28 domes stand for the 28 prophets named in the Quran. Under the main dome, the 40 windows recall the age at which Muhammad became a prophet. The height of 99 meters matches the 99 names of God.

Visiting the Sabancı Central Mosque

How to visit the Sabancı Central Mosque

The mosque is easy to reach from the city center by local transport, or on foot from the bridge. Since it is a working mosque, dress modestly and plan your visit outside prayer times. We fit the Sabancı Central Mosque into your day in Adana.

Before you go

On our Adana day, you start at the 4th-century stone bridge over the Seyhan. Then you walk along the west bank to the mosque. You sit down for Adana kebab, paid on the spot; our guide to Turkish kebabs explains the dish. After lunch, you see the statue of Tarhunza and the Roman mosaics of the Adana Museum. For another day in the region, see our Karatepe tour and our Mediterranean guide.

Updated: October 26, 2026.

Seeing the Sabancı Central Mosque with Us

Would you like to walk from a Roman bridge to a mosque of six minarets in one morning? Our Adana city and food tour brings you to the Sabancı Central Mosque between the Taşköprü and a kebab lunch. Six minarets after a Roman bridge, then kebab: one morning in Adana, any day you like.