The hand-woven carpet
4,200 square metres.
Francesco Bini — CC BY-SA 4.0 · "dronepicr" — CC BY 2.0 · Francesco Bini — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Francesco Bini — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Francesco Bini — CC BY-SA 4.0 · "dronepicr" — CC BY 2.0 · Francesco Bini — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Francesco Bini — CC BY-SA 4.0
Oman's largest mosque, in the Bausher area of Muscat. Sultan Qaboos bin Said ordered it in 1992; work began in December 1994 and took six years and seven months, and it was completed in 2001 in a contemporary Islamic style. It can hold about 20,000 worshippers. It was built with some 300,000 tonnes of Indian sandstone and is ringed by five minarets, said to stand for the five pillars of Islam: the tallest is 90 metres high and the other four 45.5 metres. A dome rises 50 metres above the main prayer hall, which holds about 6,500 worshippers. The prayer hall has a huge crystal chandelier and one of the largest hand-woven carpets in the world, which took about 27 months to make, covers 4,200 square metres and uses 28 colours of natural dye. Long arcades of marble arches and broad gardens surround the mosque. Non-Muslim visitors are welcome every day except Friday from 8:30 to 11:00, according to the mosque's official site. Dress must cover shoulders and knees and women cover their hair; abayas and scarves are available at the entrance. An 8 OMR tourist fee announced in January 2025 was withdrawn weeks later according to Omani newspapers, although the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism's site still mentions it, so check before you go.
4,200 square metres.
Over the prayer hall.
Long arches and gardens.
Bausher, on the road into central Muscat
Every day except Friday from 8:30 to 11:00, according to the mosque's official site, with modest dress and a headscarf for women.