The project, scheduled for completion by the end of next year, will be the latest Islamic structure after the State Mosque and the Sabah Islamic Religious Council (Muis) building at Sembulan here. 

     According to the curator of Islamic Civilisation at the Sabah Museum, Arif Abdul Hamid, construction of the project (first phase) over a two-hectare site at Jalan Menteri here is currently in progress. Works commenced in 1996. 

     When completed, the building would feature unique designs reflecting Islamic arts. A dome will be built at each corner of the building  with the main one in the centre to represent the Tenets of Islam. 

     Located on the grounds of the Sabah Museum complex, the project would not only provide information of the development of Islam in the State, but also serve as a tourist attraction.

     The exhibitions would feature local and foreign Islamic artifacts. 

     Currently, the Sabah Museum's Islamic Civilisation Division has a variety of historic artifacts relating to the development of Islam in Sabah dating back as far as the 17th century. 

     These include religious books from the 18th century and an old hand-written Koranic manuscript believed to be more than 100 years old.

     Also in the collection are a decorative wooden design from the Semporna district mosque and a wooden grave marker (nisan) from Pulau Bum-Bum aged more than 100 years. 

     According to Arif, the Sabah Museum's Islamic Civilisation Unit was incepted on Sept 22, 1995 under the History and Epigraphy Division headed by Su Chin Sidih. 

     The Unit was upgraded on Nov 25, the following year to become an independent division (Islamic Civilisation Division) under the State Museum. 

     The division functions with the full cooperation of the government departments, especially the State Islamic Affairs Department and State Archives.