In 1996 the building was sold by the city of Stockholm to the Islamic Association in Stockholm for SEK 8 million. However, the building of the mosque was delayed due to protests and appeals, and construction began first in 1999. On 8 June 2000 the mosque was inaugurated. The mosque was built with financial support from the individual Muslims in Sweden and abroad. One of the largest financiers was Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, principal founder and former head of state of the United Arab Emirates, whom the mosque was named after.