Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, Muscat: How to Visit and What to Do Nearby

The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque stands in the Bawshar district of Muscat, Oman, completed in 2001 and open to non-Muslim visitors during morning hours Saturday through Thursday. The main prayer hall holds up to 20,000 worshippers beneath a central dome rising 50 meters, and the hand-knotted Iranian carpet covering the prayer hall floor measures 4,343 square meters and weighs 21 tonnes—it took 600 women four years to weave. A Swarovski crystal chandelier hangs 14 meters from the dome. The complex includes separate prayer halls for women, a library, and an Islamic arts exhibition. is just one of many options in Muscat. Major attractions worth considering include Al Alam Palace (Sultan's Palace), Al Jalali Fort, and Al Mirani Fort.