Constructed in 1775 by the Algerian Sheikh Abu-El-Hassan El-Maghraby, El-Morsy Abul-Abbas Mosque was built over the tomb of the 13th century Andalusian scholar, Ahmed Abu-El-Abbas El-Morsy who joined and then led, as a devout Sufi, the Shadhali brotherhood in Alexandria, Egypt. A very renowned mosque both in Alexandria and in the whole country, El-Morsy Abul-Abbas Mosque was dedicated to the Muslim hermit, el-Morsy Abul Abbas who was born in Murcia, Spain, in 1219. He came to Alexandria to teach the Islamic theology in the Mosque of El Attarin.  He died in 1287 and was buried in the site where the mosque now lies. Built in 1929, the present mosque was modeled on the Andalusian style with a unique octagonal plan with sides measuring 22 meters. The entire area the mosque covers measures 3000 square meters. Over the centuries, extensive restoration works were ordered by different rulers who built themselves tombs next to the hermit. In 1943, King Farouq I built the wide Midan el Masaged, or "Mosque Square" which covers an area of almost 43,200 square meters. In the center of this square stands the mosque, surrounded by five other mosques.

 Annually, the mosque receives huge numbers of people celebrating the Mulid (birth) of Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi. The walls of the mosque are cased with artificial stone and there is a mosaic dada 5.60 meters high. Supporting the ceiling, which is decorated with arabesque patterns, are sixteen columns of Italian granite. These columns support the arches that are 17.20 m overhead.