Almost all of the surviving monuments from the Umayyad period are in Syria and Palestine. The Dome of the Rock sanctuary in Jerusalem is the oldest surviving Islamic building.[4]​.

The Umayyads adopted the building techniques of the Byzantine and Sassanian empires.[5] They often reused existing buildings. There was some innovation in decoration and construction types.[4] Most buildings in Syria were of high-quality ashlar masonry, using large blocks closely joined together, sometimes with carving on the façade. The stone barrel vaults were only used to roof small parts. Wooden roofs were used for larger spans, with wood in Syria brought from the forests of Lebanon. These roofs generally had shallow slopes and rested on wooden beams. Wooden domes were built for the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock, both in Jerusalem. Burnt brick and raw clay brick were used in Mesopotamia, due to a lack of stone. Where brick was used in Syria, the work was in the better Mesopotamian style rather than the cruder Byzantine style.[6]​.

The Umayyads used local workers and architects. Some of its buildings cannot be distinguished from those of the previous regime. However, in many cases Eastern and Western elements were combined to give a new distinctive Islamic style. For example, the walls of Qusair Mushatta are built of stone carved in the Syrian manner, the vaults are of Mesopotamian design, and Coptic and Byzantine elements appear in the decorative carving.[6]​ The horseshoe arch first appears in Umayyad architecture, later evolving to its most advanced form in al-Andalus.[7]​ Umayyad architecture is distinguished by the extent and variety of decoration, including mosaics, mural painting, sculpture and sculpted reliefs with Islamic motifs.[6]​.

The Umayyads are known for their desert castles, some new and others adapted from previous forts. The largest is Qasr al-Hayr al-Sharqi. The palaces were symbolically defended by walls, towers and gates. In some cases, the exterior walls had decorative friezes.[6] The palaces had a bathhouse, a mosque, and a main castle. The entrance to the castle was usually elaborate with decorations. The towers along the walls often had apartments with three or five rooms.[8]​ These rooms were simple, indicating that they were little more than places to sleep.[6]​ They sometimes had a second floor with formal meeting rooms and official apartments.[8]​.

The fortress appearance "Fortress (architecture)") was deceptive. Qasr Kharana therefore appears to have arrows, when in fact they were purely decorative.[9] The fortress-like plan was derived from Roman forts built in Syria, and construction mainly followed earlier Syrian methods with some Byzantine and Mesopotamian elements. The baths were derived from Roman models, but had smaller heated rooms and larger ornate rooms that presumably would have been used for entertaining.[8] Palaces or castles had floor mosaics and frescoes or wall paintings, with designs showing both Eastern and Western influences. A fresco in the bath of Qusair Amra depicts six kings. The following inscriptions in Arabic and Greek identify the first four as the rulers of Byzantium, Spain (at the time Visigoth), Persia and Abyssinia.[10]​ Stucco sculptures were sometimes incorporated into palace buildings.[11]​.

Qasr al-Hayr al-Sharqi is about 100 kilometers (62 miles) northeast of Palmyra, on the main road from Aleppo to Iraq. It is assumed that this large walled enclosure measuring 7 by 4 kilometers was used to contain domestic animals.[12] A walled madina, or city, contained a mosque, an olive oil press, and six large houses. Nearby there was a bathroom and some simpler houses. According to an inscription dated 728, the caliph provided significant funds for its development.[12] The construction had a late antique Mediterranean design, but was soon modified. The madina originally had four gates, one in each wall, but three were soon walled up. The basic design was formal, but the buildings often did not comply with the plan.[12] Most desert castles were abandoned after the Umayyads fell from power and remained as ruins.[6]

The mosques were sometimes built improvisedly. In Iraq, they evolved from square prayer enclosures.[4] The ruins of two large Umayyad mosques have been found in Samarra, Iraq. One is 73 by 48 m and the other is 213 by 135 meters. Both had hypostyle designs, with roofs supported by elaborately designed columns.[13]​.

In Syria, the Umayyads preserved the general concept of a court surrounded by porticoes, with a deeper sanctuary, that had developed in Medina. Instead of making the sanctuary a hypostyle hall, as was done in Iraq, they divided it into three hallways. This may have derived from the architecture of the church, although all aisles were the same width.[14] In Syria, churches were converted into mosques by blocking the west door and making entrances in the north wall. The direction of prayer was towards the south, towards Mecca, so the long axis of the building was at right angles to the direction of prayer.[15]​.

The Umayyads introduced a transept "Cruise (architecture)") that divided the prayer hall along its shortest axis.[14] They also added the mihrab to the mosque's design.[14] The mosque in Medina built by Walid I had the first mihrab, a niche in the qibla wall, which appears to have represented the place where the Prophet stood when he led prayer. This almost immediately became a standard feature of all mosques.[14] The minbar also began to appear in mosques in cities or administrative centres, a throne structure with royal rather than religious connotations.[14]

The Great Mosque of Damascus was built by Caliph Walid I around 706-715.[3] The Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem may have been the basis for the design.[16] The design remains unchanged and some of the decoration has been preserved. The Great Mosque was built within the area of ​​a first-century Roman temenos. The outer walls of the earlier building, once a temple dedicated to Jupiter "Jupiter (mythology)") and later a church, were preserved, although the southern entrances were walled and new entrances were made in the northern wall. The interior was completely rebuilt.[17]​.

The Damascus Mosque is rectangular, 157.5 by 100 meters, with a covered area of 136 by 37 meters and a courtyard of 122.5 by 50 meters surrounded by a portico. The prayer hall has three corridors parallel to the qibla wall, an arrangement very common in Umayyad mosques in Syria. originals, and is the oldest minaret in Islam.[17] The court supports a small octagonal building on columns. This was the treasure of the Muslims, perhaps the only symbolic one, which was traditionally kept in the main mosque of a city.[18] The walls of the mosque were decorated with mosaics, some of which have survived, including one depicting the houses, palaces and river valley of Damascus.[17] The marble window grilles in the great mosque, which diffuse light, were worked in patterns of interlocking circles and squares, precursors of the arabesque style. which would become a characteristic of Islamic decoration.[19]​.

The Great Mosque of Damascus served as a model for later mosques.[4] Similar, reduced arrangements have been found in a mosque excavated in Tiberias, on the Sea of Galilee, and in a mosque in the palace of Khirbat al-Minya.[3] The plan of the White Mosque in Ramla differs in its shape, and the prayer hall is divided into only two corridors. This can be explained by the construction of underground cisterns in the period. abasí, causing the original structure to be reduced.[16]​.

The mosque of Sidi Okba (sayyidi Okba ibn nafi) of Biskra Algeria) belongs to a large complex built around the tomb of the governor of Ifriqiya 'Uqba ibn Nafi' (died 683). This mosque is one of the oldest in North Africa, illustrating the style of Medina. Over time it became a cultural center of radiation and worship that trained brilliant scholars of the Muslim world. Its plan was inspired by the first mosque built in Medina. The seven naves parallel to the qibla wall include seven niches. This transversal arrangement, implemented in the Umayyad period, is not only the oldest but also the most appropriate for Muslim prayer. Semicircular horseshoe arches supported by wooden ties fall on columns made of palm tree trunks. It is the only example of the Algerian support system, which undoubtedly comes from Medina, but is also common in Central Asia.[20]​.

Almost all of the surviving monuments from the Umayyad period are in Syria and Palestine. The Dome of the Rock sanctuary in Jerusalem is the oldest surviving Islamic building.[4]​.

The Umayyads adopted the building techniques of the Byzantine and Sassanian empires.[5] They often reused existing buildings. There was some innovation in decoration and construction types.[4] Most buildings in Syria were of high-quality ashlar masonry, using large blocks closely joined together, sometimes with carving on the façade. The stone barrel vaults were only used to roof small parts. Wooden roofs were used for larger spans, with wood in Syria brought from the forests of Lebanon. These roofs generally had shallow slopes and rested on wooden beams. Wooden domes were built for the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock, both in Jerusalem. Burnt brick and raw clay brick were used in Mesopotamia, due to a lack of stone. Where brick was used in Syria, the work was in the better Mesopotamian style rather than the cruder Byzantine style.[6]​.

The Umayyads used local workers and architects. Some of its buildings cannot be distinguished from those of the previous regime. However, in many cases Eastern and Western elements were combined to give a new distinctive Islamic style. For example, the walls of Qusair Mushatta are built of stone carved in the Syrian manner, the vaults are of Mesopotamian design, and Coptic and Byzantine elements appear in the decorative carving.[6]​ The horseshoe arch first appears in Umayyad architecture, later evolving to its most advanced form in al-Andalus.[7]​ Umayyad architecture is distinguished by the extent and variety of decoration, including mosaics, mural painting, sculpture and sculpted reliefs with Islamic motifs.[6]​.

The Umayyads are known for their desert castles, some new and others adapted from previous forts. The largest is Qasr al-Hayr al-Sharqi. The palaces were symbolically defended by walls, towers and gates. In some cases, the exterior walls had decorative friezes.[6] The palaces had a bathhouse, a mosque, and a main castle. The entrance to the castle was usually elaborate with decorations. The towers along the walls often had apartments with three or five rooms.[8]​ These rooms were simple, indicating that they were little more than places to sleep.[6]​ They sometimes had a second floor with formal meeting rooms and official apartments.[8]​.

The fortress appearance "Fortress (architecture)") was deceptive. Qasr Kharana therefore appears to have arrows, when in fact they were purely decorative.[9] The fortress-like plan was derived from Roman forts built in Syria, and construction mainly followed earlier Syrian methods with some Byzantine and Mesopotamian elements. The baths were derived from Roman models, but had smaller heated rooms and larger ornate rooms that presumably would have been used for entertaining.[8] Palaces or castles had floor mosaics and frescoes or wall paintings, with designs showing both Eastern and Western influences. A fresco in the bath of Qusair Amra depicts six kings. The following inscriptions in Arabic and Greek identify the first four as the rulers of Byzantium, Spain (at the time Visigoth), Persia and Abyssinia.[10]​ Stucco sculptures were sometimes incorporated into palace buildings.[11]​.

Qasr al-Hayr al-Sharqi is about 100 kilometers (62 miles) northeast of Palmyra, on the main road from Aleppo to Iraq. It is assumed that this large walled enclosure measuring 7 by 4 kilometers was used to contain domestic animals.[12] A walled madina, or city, contained a mosque, an olive oil press, and six large houses. Nearby there was a bathroom and some simpler houses. According to an inscription dated 728, the caliph provided significant funds for its development.[12] The construction had a late antique Mediterranean design, but was soon modified. The madina originally had four gates, one in each wall, but three were soon walled up. The basic design was formal, but the buildings often did not comply with the plan.[12] Most desert castles were abandoned after the Umayyads fell from power and remained as ruins.[6]

The mosques were sometimes built improvisedly. In Iraq, they evolved from square prayer enclosures.[4] The ruins of two large Umayyad mosques have been found in Samarra, Iraq. One is 73 by 48 m and the other is 213 by 135 meters. Both had hypostyle designs, with roofs supported by elaborately designed columns.[13]​.

In Syria, the Umayyads preserved the general concept of a court surrounded by porticoes, with a deeper sanctuary, that had developed in Medina. Instead of making the sanctuary a hypostyle hall, as was done in Iraq, they divided it into three hallways. This may have derived from the architecture of the church, although all aisles were the same width.[14] In Syria, churches were converted into mosques by blocking the west door and making entrances in the north wall. The direction of prayer was towards the south, towards Mecca, so the long axis of the building was at right angles to the direction of prayer.[15]​.

The Umayyads introduced a transept "Cruise (architecture)") that divided the prayer hall along its shortest axis.[14] They also added the mihrab to the mosque's design.[14] The mosque in Medina built by Walid I had the first mihrab, a niche in the qibla wall, which appears to have represented the place where the Prophet stood when he led prayer. This almost immediately became a standard feature of all mosques.[14] The minbar also began to appear in mosques in cities or administrative centres, a throne structure with royal rather than religious connotations.[14]

The Great Mosque of Damascus was built by Caliph Walid I around 706-715.[3] The Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem may have been the basis for the design.[16] The design remains unchanged and some of the decoration has been preserved. The Great Mosque was built within the area of ​​a first-century Roman temenos. The outer walls of the earlier building, once a temple dedicated to Jupiter "Jupiter (mythology)") and later a church, were preserved, although the southern entrances were walled and new entrances were made in the northern wall. The interior was completely rebuilt.[17]​.

The Damascus Mosque is rectangular, 157.5 by 100 meters, with a covered area of 136 by 37 meters and a courtyard of 122.5 by 50 meters surrounded by a portico. The prayer hall has three corridors parallel to the qibla wall, an arrangement very common in Umayyad mosques in Syria. originals, and is the oldest minaret in Islam.[17] The court supports a small octagonal building on columns. This was the treasure of the Muslims, perhaps the only symbolic one, which was traditionally kept in the main mosque of a city.[18] The walls of the mosque were decorated with mosaics, some of which have survived, including one depicting the houses, palaces and river valley of Damascus.[17] The marble window grilles in the great mosque, which diffuse light, were worked in patterns of interlocking circles and squares, precursors of the arabesque style. which would become a characteristic of Islamic decoration.[19]​.

The Great Mosque of Damascus served as a model for later mosques.[4] Similar, reduced arrangements have been found in a mosque excavated in Tiberias, on the Sea of Galilee, and in a mosque in the palace of Khirbat al-Minya.[3] The plan of the White Mosque in Ramla differs in its shape, and the prayer hall is divided into only two corridors. This can be explained by the construction of underground cisterns in the period. abasí, causing the original structure to be reduced.[16]​.

The mosque of Sidi Okba (sayyidi Okba ibn nafi) of Biskra Algeria) belongs to a large complex built around the tomb of the governor of Ifriqiya 'Uqba ibn Nafi' (died 683). This mosque is one of the oldest in North Africa, illustrating the style of Medina. Over time it became a cultural center of radiation and worship that trained brilliant scholars of the Muslim world. Its plan was inspired by the first mosque built in Medina. The seven naves parallel to the qibla wall include seven niches. This transversal arrangement, implemented in the Umayyad period, is not only the oldest but also the most appropriate for Muslim prayer. Semicircular horseshoe arches supported by wooden ties fall on columns made of palm tree trunks. It is the only example of the Algerian support system, which undoubtedly comes from Medina, but is also common in Central Asia.[20]​.