Inaugurated in October 2016, the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque Sohar is located in the heart of the Wilayat of Sohar, opposite Bait Bahjat Al Andhar in the Al Batinah Governorate. With its breathtaking design and truly mesmerising architecture, the structure is a gem in Al Batinah Governorate’s and the Sultanate’s crown and a marker of the development and innovation in the city of Sohar.
Standing on a sprawling total area of 181,000 square metres, the mosque comprises of a built up area of 28,778 square metres. The rest of the grounds house a beautiful garden, picturesque landscaping, car parks and other facilities. Like most other mosques in the Sultanate of Oman, the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque Sohar is open to all visitors between the morning hours of 8am and 11am from Saturdays to Thursdays.
At first sight, the mosque is an awe-inspiring structure. It’s exterior magnificence lies in the crisp, clean white marble exterior walls and the sublime turquoise blue main dome that sits elegantly atop the structure. The main entrance is truly grand in every way. The muted pastel hues of pink and blue, turquoise and royal blue with gold and white, gleaming from the intricate tile mosaic and inlays make this main entrance a standout feature – a graceful work of art. Apart from the grand entrance, there are also two other main entrances and four minarets with smaller turquoise domes sitting on each of them.
The architectural style of the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque Sohar draws influence largely from Persian and central Asian Islamic architectural styles with touches of traditional Omani architectural elements that make it unique. A one-of-a-kind feature of the structure of this mosque is the incorporation of wood in its design, something that is not seen in the construction of other mosques in Oman.
Upon entering the mosque, the intricate carvings that don the walls catch the eye. The main prayer hall at the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque Sohar can house 4,600 faithful at a time, and the women’s prayer hall can house 740 worshippers. The Mihrab in the main hall follows a similar design of the grand entrance with turquoise and gold tile inlays and mosaics complemented by beautiful carvings. One look up and the sheer glory of the main chandelier emitting its magical glow is enough to take your breath away!
Apart from being a place of worship, the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque Sohar was also constructed with the purpose of it serving as a cultural and social hub. It houses a large public library that is accessible to all, a number of classrooms for Islamic studies, a multipurpose hall for cultural events that will bring the community together and a majlis for social events and meetings.
As with the rules and regulations for visiting mosques in the Sultanate, while the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque Sohar is open to non-Muslim public in the morning hours during the week, it is required that everyone dress decently during their visit; women’s hair, arms and legs should be covered. It is also key to maintain silence and peace while taking in the grandeur of the mosque and to remain respectful of the religious and the structure itself at all times.