Muscat: The Sultan Qaboos Mosque in the Wilayat of Nizwa, al Dakhiliyah Governorate, stands as a testament to the area’s religious, historical and cultural significance.The architectural design of the mosque, which opened on September 18, 2015, was inspired by the traditional style of al Dakhiliyah Governorate, with an emphasis on simplicity and optimal use of interior decoration. The mosque features four minarets, giving it a unique charm and distinguishing it from other mosques in the various governorates.
The mosque is located at the intersection of the main roads connecting Nizwa to Muscat, Salalah, and Bahla, as part of a new urban plan being developed in the city.
The mosque occupies an area of 8,000 square metres near Wadi Nizwa, with its platform elevated to enhance visibility from all directions and to provide protection against potential flooding. This raised structure highlights the mosque’s dominant presence in the urban landscape.
The mosque building consists of the main prayer hall, which covers an area of 3,546 square metres. The hall's interior dimensions are 60 meters x 60 metres, accommodating approximately 4,500 worshippers. The main prayer hall is accessed from the qibla direction via a grand and spacious staircase and through the covered courtyard.
There are four other entrances, allowing access from the garden to the north and south of the mosque.
These courtyards also provide access to the courtyard area located on the side of the hall via a large staircase.
The covered courtyard and the two open courtyards can be used as additional prayer areas. They are surrounded by an arched wall that encloses ablution areas and shoe storage cabinets. The outdoor areas can be used as additional worshippers' areas, accommodating approximately 5,300 worshippers.
The mosque includes a prayer hall for women, which can accommodate approximately 434 worshippers. It is located on the ground floor of the mosque and can be accessed separately through the external courtyards and lobby.
On the other hand, all of the mosque's main facilities are located on the ground floor, which is five meters above ground level. These facilities include ablution areas, offices, and auxiliary services. All equipment is located on the service floor above the main prayer hall.
The mosque's architectural design features a dome 27 metres in diameter, rising 55 metres above ground level. This dome is surrounded by four minarets, each 80 metres high, which define the four corners of the main prayer hall. The prayer hall's exterior finishes include side buttresses and parapets above the building, all inspired by the architectural style prevalent in the region.
The main prayer hall is surrounded by a protective wall that encloses all of the mosque's other facilities. This wall is clad in stone and features arched shapes. The stonework is enhanced with Quranic inscriptions and manuscripts.
The main prayer hall rises approximately 14 metres from the inside, with the dome reaching a height of approximately 40 metres from the inside. Ornate marble was used in the interior finishes of the hall, along with decorative plasterwork on the walls, arched vaults, and ceilings. The ceiling was also painted with specialized decorative paints, the designs of which were inspired by the designs prevalent in the region.
The qibla wall featured extensive use of ornate marble. The marble mihrab featured extensive use of the building's finest inlay and engraving, including intricately designed engravings, engraved Qur'anic manuscripts, and geometric and floral designs. The prayer hall windows featured thin decorative layers of transparent marble, as well as colored decorative glass.
The Sultan Qaboos Mosque Library in Nizwa represents the most important facility of the mosque, which was opened with the opening of the mosque under the supervision of the Sultan Qaboos Higher Center for Culture and Science. Its area is 277.50 square metres, designed on two floors around an internal courtyard covered with glass, in addition to three classes for memorizing the Holy Qur’an, built around a special courtyard, and a multi-purpose hall with an area of 306 square metres.
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