When in Oman there is one attraction that stands out from the rest, which is known for its grand stature and mystified history. Naturally, the Grand Mosque is going to be one of the highlights of your visit or stay to Oman.
The Mosque is built from 300,000 tonnes of Indian sandstone. The main musalla (prayer hall) is square (external dimensions 74.4 x 74.4 metres) with a central dome rising to a height of fifty metres above the floor. The dome and the main minaret (90 metres) and four flanking minarets (45.5 metres) are the mosque’s chief visual features. The main musalla can hold over 6,500 worshippers, while the women’s musalla can accommodate 750 worshipers. The outer paved ground can hold 8,000 worshipers and there is additional space available in the interior courtyard and the passageways, making a total capacity of up to 20,000 worshipers. The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque is built on a site occupying 416,000 square metres and the complex extends to cover an area of 40,000 square metres. The newly built Grand Mosque was inaugurated by Sultan of Oman on May 4, 2001.
As an expat or Overseas Filipino Worker, most of us visit this mosque during the Eid or when it is in our most convenient time specially if we just stay nearby.
The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque is one of the only mosques in Oman that allows non-Muslim visitors. However, be aware of the rules when entering and exploring the area. Children under ten are not permitted into in the prayer halls and there is no eating or sleeping in the prayer hall or use of cell phones. Luckily, most of these rules help to give you a peaceful and quiet experience in this fabulous building.
Men and women must dress conservatively in long trousers and covered shoulders. Women must also cover their hair.
Now, perhaps most of us have already visited this mosque and toured around and enjoyed the majestic view of the structure. Let us take you to another level of viewing the mosque.
Check out this aerial video of the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque and see the view of the outer structure like you never seen before.
