Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque

The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque is the main mosque of Oman, located on Sultan Qaboos Street in Bawshar, Muscat. It was a gift from Sultan Qaboos bin Said to the nation to mark the 30th year of his reign, and it was completed in 2001 after about six years of construction. The architecture is Indo-Islamic, built mainly of Indian sandstone, with a central minaret roughly 90 metres high surrounded by four smaller minarets representing the five pillars of Islam. The main prayer hall holds several thousand worshippers, with additional space in the courtyards and a separate women's prayer hall. Its best-known features are the hand-woven Persian-style carpet that covers the main hall, made in one piece by hundreds of weavers over several years and among the largest of its kind, and the large Swarovski crystal chandelier hanging beneath the central dome. Marble, carved wood, tilework and gilded calligraphy decorate the interior, and the arcaded courtyards and gardens add a calm formal setting. The mosque also contains an Islamic library and is a centre for religious learning. Non-Muslim visitors are welcome in the mornings, from 8:00AM to 11:00AM, Saturday to Thursday, and the mosque is closed to visitors on Fridays. Admission is free. A strict dress code applies: men and women must cover arms and legs, and women must also cover their hair, with abayas and scarves not usually available for loan, so visitors should arrive correctly dressed. Children under about ten are not permitted inside, and visitors are expected to remove shoes, speak quietly and avoid disturbing worshippers. Visitors typically spend an hour or more. The mosque is well maintained and has parking, restrooms and a visitor centre. It lies away from Old Muscat, so travel by taxi or car is usual. The official website is sultanqaboosgrandmosque.om.