Open!

The Sultan Qaboos Mosque in Muscat is one of the largest mosques in the world and is regarded as Oman’s most significant Islamic building. It was inaugurated in 2001, following around six years of construction, and is dedicated to the late Sultan Qaboos ibn Said, who commissioned its construction.

The building can accommodate a total of around 40,000 worshippers – approximately 20,000 inside and a further 20,000 in the outdoor areas. The mosque has five minarets, the tallest of which measures around 90 metres, as well as an imposing main dome with a diameter of approximately 50 metres.

Particularly famous is the hand-knotted carpet in the main prayer hall, which is one of the largest of its kind in the world. It was made in Iran, weighs several tonnes and covers almost the entire prayer area. The huge crystal chandelier inside is also one of the building’s highlights.

Unusually for the region, the mosque is open to visitors: even non-Muslims are permitted to visit the mosque outside prayer times, although appropriate attire is required. | Oman