A deal was reached with builder Gorenje projekt for the main construction work on the Islamic religious and cultural centre, the secretary general of the Islamic Community Nevzet Porić told the press.

Construction will be carried out in several stages, with the construction pit having already been excavated last year by another contractor.

Gorenje projekt will perform all the key construction works, with electrical installations to be performed by Elektromontaža and technical equipment installed by Klima Ptuj.

The total cost of the construction and technical works is valued EUR 22.3m, with another EUR 2.4m to be spent on furnishings and EUR 1.3m on road and other infrastructure around the building.

Mufti Nedžad Grabus voiced satisfaction that the community had overcome all the administrative barriers and that the first works on the building itself will begin.

"This will be the most beautiful mosque in Europe," he told the press in presenting more detailed plans for the interior.

The mosque and Muslim cultural centre, 44 years in the making, is being built north of the city centre, on a plot of land that the Muslim community bought from the City of Ljubljana.

The building was designed by the renowned architectural firm Bevk Perovič Arhitekti.

Most of the funding for the centre will come from the state of Qatar, which by some accounts will cover 70% of the project cost.

In selecting the contractor for the excavation of the pit last June, Mufti Nedžad Grabus said that "without Qatar, the Islamic community would not be able to continue with the project".