Traveling to the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque

Traveling Through Muscat

The distance from downtown Muscat to sites such as the Sultan Qaboos Mosque is nearly 22km. Especially during the summer months, the spread-out capital of Oman is impossible to conquer by foot. It is not that Muscat is a large city, but all the districts and neighborhoods are spread out along the coast. Sandwiched in between the mountains and the sea, Muscat is a long narrow city that follows the water for miles.

During July and August, all of the city will be emptied, making it next to impossible to attempt to hoof it even to nearby destinations. Even the walk from your hotel to the bus stop will leave you drenched in sweat. Locals will only emerge from their homes to frequent the bazaars and exercise in the parks well into the night. But as a tourist, you will not want to burn daylight. Braving the distance and the heat will be your only option to truly take in the sights of Muscat.

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How To Get To The Sultan Qaboos Mosque

Getting to the Sultan Qaboos Mosque will also take a little bit of planning. If you are staying near the Muscat Bazaar in Mutrah, you will want to first head to the Mwasalat Ruwi Bus Station. You can take Bus 4 (200 Baisa/ 0.50 USD) found in front of the Fish Market to take you directly to the main transport hub. After arriving at the bus station, you will then have to transfer to Bus 1 (300 Baisa / 0.75 USD). Taking the bus 16 stops, you will then want to get off at Al Azaiba A. From there you will have to turn back and walk 2 km to the Sultan Qaboos Mosque.

With temperatures well over 100 degrees during the summer, a short 2 km walk will leave dripping with sweat by the time you reach the entrance to the Grand Mosque. The caretakers will meet you with reactions of amusement and shock as they offer you a chair in front of a large industrial-sized fan at the front gates. It is important to note that the Sultan Qaboos Mosque is only open from 8 am to 11 am and is closed on Fridays. After making such a long trek out to the suburbs of Muscat, nothing will ruin your trip more than being met with a locked gate.

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A Blinding Mosque

Built of marble and sandstone, this massive mosque rivals the beauty of the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in the UAE. During the low season, the entirety of the Sultan Qaboos Mosque will be empty, leaving you to wander the courtyards and stroll through the high ceiling halls in peace. Free to reflect and marvel at the master craftsmanship put into this stunning mosque.

It is not uncommon for some volunteers to scoop up foreign tourists and offer them dates and water at the visitor center. Islam is often shown in a bad light by the western media, so these volunteers make a point to share the actual tenants of their religion with tourists and show them some world-famous Arab hospitality. Although these volunteers mean well, they are not experts on religion. There are many things that they may bring up that you will have to take with a grain of salt.

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The Men’s Prayer Hall

The exterior of the Sultan Qaboos Mosque is stunning. But it does not necessarily show anything that you have not already seen elsewhere in the Middle East, except on a grander scale. The minimalist design, towering minarets, and ornate domes reflect the best of traditional Islamic architecture but do little to separate it from mosques you may see in Morocco or Saudi Arabia. It is the interior that truly sets the Sultan Qaboos Mosque apart from any other Masjid you have come across.

While the main dome of the mosque is reserved for men during prayer times, both men and women can wander the interior freely within visiting hours. From the second you step onto the carpet your eyes will be glued to the ceiling. The surrounding walls may be ordinary. But it is the stained glass windows and the golden chandelier that will truly have your neck hurting by the time you leave the mosque.

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The Grand Mosque

With its romanticized Islamic architecture, lanterns hanging from each archway, and breathtaking interior, the Sultan Qaboos Mosque will be the new standard that you will hold every majid you visit henceforth to. The contemplative marble courtyards, the geometric patterns, and symmetry of the mosque is nothing short of breathtaking.

One of the reasons that you may be so blown away by this Grand Mosque is that there is no other one site in Muscat that travelers can wander around and explore. There is the Mutrah Bazaar and the Palace, but these small sites are not enough to make a tourist travel half-way across the world to Muscat. The skyline of the capital with its lights sparkling between the sea and mountains is a scene that will stay with you forever. But other than the Sultan Qaboos Mosque, you will not find a lot to explore before journeying out to the deserts of Oman.