In 1922, the Islamic Higher Council was established to preserve Islamic ideals and protect the sanctuaries of Palestine. The council took responsibility for raising funds to restore the Dome of the Rock. A delegation visited Sharif Hussein bin Ali in 1924 and explained to him the mosque’s condition. Sharif Hussein contributed 38,000 golden lira.

Emir Abdullah bin Al Hussein personally supervised the restorations. He also supervised the 1940s renovations, known as the Egyptian Restoration due to the Egyptian technical participation and the import of ceramic tiles from Egypt.

During the 1948 war, the Old City of Jerusalem, Al Aqsa Mosque/Al Haram Al Sharif, and the roof of the Holy Sepulchre suffered considerable damage. Immediately after the end of the war, King Abdullah I visited Al Aqsa and declared the restoration of Mihrab Zakariah (Niche of Al Aqsa) as part of the reconstruction of surrounding buildings which had also suffered structural damages.

In 1949, King Abdullah I personally helped extinguish a fire that destroyed parts of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. King Abdullah I assiduously maintained the role of the Custodian of the Holy Sites in Jerusalem throughout his reign.