Istanbul's massive Camlica mosque opens for prayers – in pictures

People arrive for morning prayers at the Camlica Mosque in Istanbul. AFP

A picture taken with a drone shows the new Camlica mosque. The world's biggest finial, which is 7.77 meters long and has a weight of 4.5 tons was placed on top of the dome. EPA

Worshippers arrive for prayers at the Camlica Mosque in Istanbul. AFP

The sun rises behind the Camlica Mosque in Istanbul. AP Photo

Inside the Camlica Mosque in Istanbul. AFP

Female worshippers attend early prayers. AFP

Worshippers arrive for early morning prayers at the Camlica Mosque in Istanbul. AFP

The giant prayer hall. AFP

The pray hall. AFP

Worshippers arrive for the early morning prayers at the Camlica Mosque in Istanbul. AFP

Camlica Mosque's courtyard. AFP

A view looking up at one of the domes inside the mosque. AP Photo

Muslims pray at the Camlica Mosque in Istanbul. AP Photo

A view of the Camlica Mosque in Istanbul. AP Photo

Worshippers arrived for the first morning prayers at the giant Camlica Mosque in Istanbul on Thursday.

Occupying an area of 15,000 square metres on the Anatolian side of the city, Camilca is now the largest mosque in Turkey.

Construction began in 2013 and was marked as one of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's megaprojects for the country.

It was designed and created by two female architects, Bahar Mizrak and Hayriye Gul Totu, at a cost of $66.5 million, according to the government-aligned newspaper Daily Sabah.

Featuring six minarets – two of which are over 100 metres tall – and a main dome that is 72 metres high. On top of the dome is the world's biggest finial – which is 7.77m long and weighs about 4 tonnes.

The mosque is capable of hosting 60,000 worshippers.