The mosque also includes a number of modern touches:
it was built to withstand earthquakes and has a heated floor,
electric doors, a sliding roof, and lasers which shine at night from the top of the minaret toward Mecca.

Many Casablancans have mixed feelings about Hassan II Mosque.
On one hand, they are very proud that this beautiful monument dominates their city.
On the other, they are aware that the expense
(estimates range from $500 to 800 million)
could have been put to better use and they resent the fact that the building
of the mosque necessitated the destruction of a fairly large,
slummy section of Casablanca, the residents of which did not receive any compensation.