JEDDAH: The Muslim World League (MWL) and the Indonesian Mosque Council (DMI) have joined forces to build the largest-ever museum dedicated to Islamic history and civilization. The huge center, to be established in the Indonesian capital Jakarta, is expected to attract 4 million visitors a year on completion, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday. MWL Secretary-General Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, and Indonesia’s minister of administrative reform and DMI vice chairman, Syafruddin, signed an agreement in Jeddah to mark the launch of the ambitious project. The museum will be set up as a branch of its headquarters in Madinah, which was inaugurated during Ramadan under the sponsorship of Madinah Gov. Prince Faisal bin Salman. The opening received international recognition and the MWL had requests from 24 countries, including Indonesia, to help establish branches. Using the latest presentation techniques, the Indonesian museum will house displays highlighting the biography of the Prophet Muhammad and Islamic civilization. As the first branch of the global initiative, the Jakarta complex will also offer a range of events including discussions, training seminars, conferences and forums. Syafruddin said it was a great “pleasure” for him personally and the Indonesian people to sign the agreement, which was inked at a ceremony attended by Indonesian officials and the country’s consul general, Dr. Mohamad Hery Saripudin. When built, the museum is expected to cover an area of more than 100,000 square meters in the Jakarta suburb of Pioppo and will include conference halls and restaurants selling food accepted by Islam. Construction work is due to begin over the next few months.