Photo: Francesco Bini (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Culture and heritage · Oman
The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque
A morning at Muscat's great mosque, among white marble, a hand-woven carpet and a crystal chandelier.
Muscat · Oman
The experience
The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque opened in 2001 in the Bawshar district of Muscat. It is the largest mosque in Oman, with a main minaret and four others and a gilded dome above the main prayer hall.
The prayer hall has one of the largest hand-woven carpets in the world, made in a single piece by craftsmen over several years, beneath a huge crystal chandelier. Tilework and carved wood on the walls bring together Islamic arts from many lands.
The mosque opens to non-worshippers in the morning from Saturday to Thursday. Modest dress covering arms and legs is required, with a head covering for women. There is a library and a visitor centre.
We arrange the visit early in the morning, before the heat; you can pray there or simply visit with a guide who explains the architecture.
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