Sultan Qaboos Mosque, the largest mosque in Salalah, is a prominent Islamic landmark located in the Salalah City Center area. This grand mosque in Salalah is not only an important place of worship but also an exceptional example of Islamic architecture in Oman.

Known for its stunning design and expansive structure, Sultan Qaboos Mosque is the biggest mosque in Salalah and ranks among the largest mosques in Oman, second only to the iconic mosques in Muscat and Nizwa. It attracts both worshippers and tourists looking to explore Salalah’s cultural attractions and architectural heritage.

Whether you are visiting Salalah for religious, cultural, or tourism purposes, a visit to Sultan Qaboos Mosque is a must for anyone interested in Omani architecture, Islamic culture, and the top attractions in Salalah.

Further Reading:

• List of Tourist Attractions in Salalah, Oman
• Best places to Stay in Salalah
• A Post About Islam and Muslims

Sultan Qaboos Mosque from Outside

The mosque is a beautiful architecture, displaying Islamic structure. Sultan Qaboos Masjid is one of the two icon and landmark of the city. The other one is the Clock Tower. The mosque is located in 23rd July Street, in Salalah City Center Area.

From the outside, the two domes and two tall minarets of the mosque are visible. A small lawn and parking area inside the fencing surrounds the mosque building.

At the main entrance, Jama Sultan Qaboos is written in Arabic. Beautiful chandeliers hung at the exterior as well.

Inside Salalah’s Sultan Qaboos Mosque

The Sultan Qaboos Mosque in Salalah features two beautifully designed prayer halls. The main prayer hall, the larger of the two, is dedicated to male worshippers, while a separate women’s prayer hall provides a serene space for female worshippers. In accordance with Islamic practices in Oman, the separation of men and women during prayers ensures a respectful and organized worship environment.

A spacious open mosque courtyard or compound leads to the main male prayer hall. This area becomes especially crowded during Friday prayers in Salalah, as locals and visitors gather for Jumu’ah.

One of the most remarkable architectural elements is the set of grand wooden doors at the entrance of the main prayer hall. These intricately carved doors feature traditional Arabic designs and reflect the rich Islamic art and architecture of Oman.

Whether you’re a traveler exploring Salalah’s cultural landmarks or a worshipper seeking spiritual reflection, the interior of Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Salalah offers both peace and architectural beauty.

The male hall is the largest one. The prayer hall is wonderfully decorated with chandeliers, green carpet and wall patterns and many air conditioners are installed.

Worship inside Sultan Qaboos Mosque in Salalah is performed facing the Qibla, the direction of the Holy Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The Kaaba, the holiest site in Islam, was built by Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) and his son Prophet Ismail, and it is the focal point for all Muslim prayers around the world.

The green carpet in the mosque is marked with orange horizontal lines, known as Saaf, to guide worshippers in forming straight rows during congregational prayers. Muslims pray in unison, shoulder to shoulder, symbolizing unity and equality before God.

At the center of the front Qibla wall, there is a slightly extended area known as the Mihrab, where the Imam (prayer leader) stands to lead the prayers. To the right of the Mihrab is a small raised platform or window-like structure called the Minbar. This is where the Imam delivers the Friday Khutbah (sermon) before the Jumu’ah prayer. The Friday sermon is traditionally delivered in Arabic and is presented in two parts.

The thoughtful architectural layout of Salalah’s Grand Mosque not only facilitates organized worship but also reflects the deep-rooted Islamic traditions and spiritual practices in Oman.

The chandelier under the largest dome is worth noticing.

Ablution Areas

The mosque has many places to do wadu (ablution). This is washing of hands, face, and feet in particular order and way, before praying. In addition to the indoor places for ablution, some of these are located outside as well in beautiful canopies. These are located on the lawn of the mosque.

Non-Muslims can Visit Sultan Qaboos Mosque

Non-Muslims (Christians, Jews, Hindus, and other religions) can also visit the mosque, but not at the time of prayer. There are basically 5 prayers every day. Firstly, its Fajr Prayer which is offered at the time of Dawn. Secondly, the prayer is at noon and known as Zuhr prayer. Thirdly, its Asr prayer, which is offered in the evening. Fourthly, Mughrib prayer is offered at sunset. Lastly, Isha prayer is offered at night.

The following are important things to note for non Muslim visitor to Sultan Qaboos Mosque:

• From Saturday to Thursday, the mosque is open to non-Muslim visitors in the morning.
• The visiting time is from 8 am to 11 am in the morning.
• On Friday, the mosque is not open for visitors due to the larger congregation.
• There is a dress code for entrance in the mosque. Both men and women should wear decent clothing. As this is a religious place, the dressing should be respectful. As a rule, men must wear shirts that has sleeves and shorts are not permitted. A full length trouser is highly recommended.
• Ladies must cover their full body. It means that they must wear a head scarf to cover their hairs, wear a shirt with sleeve from shoulder to wrist, and a trouser till heals.
• Children under 7 years are not allowed inside the mosque.
• Footware is not permitted inside. Shelves are available at the entrance for putting the foot ware.

Holy Quran Inside the Mosque

Inside, the Holy Book of Muslims, Al Quran Al Karim, is placed at various places. Muslims read it before and after the 5 daily prayers or any time of the day and night.

The Holy Quran is the book of Muslims. It is basically the words of Allah and He himself mentioned it as his words in the book. Interestingly, the book mentioned Prophet Abrahim, Prophet Moses, Prophet Jesus and others sent before Prophet Mohammed. Download an English Version of the Quran

Friday Prayer at Sultan Qaboos Mosque Salalah

The largest congregation is at the weekly Friday prayer at this mosque. The mosque is named after the sultan of Oman, sultan Qaboos.

If you are offering Friday prayer, following are the tips:

• As a lot of people will be offering Friday Prayer in this mosque. Parking is limited. Try to come earlier, so that you can find a good parking spot.
• The prayer starting time is between 12:15 pm to 12:45 pm depending on the season.
• Chairs are available for the elderly people and those who want chair for offering prayer.
• Quran copies are available inside, so you can recite Surah Kahf on the day of Friday.

Night Time Illumination

Sultan Qaboos Mosque is beautifully lit in night. The mosque looks beautiful at night as well. This time, it can be a photo stop as the mosque is closed after Isha Prayer.

Recommended Place To Stay In Salalah

For experiencing great Salalah nightlife, the best place to stay in Dhofar is in the city of Salalah. There are Over 100 Hotels and Apartments on Booking.com for Salalah, which you can consider for your comfortable and memorable stay.

Below are our recommendations:

Luxury: Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara

There couldn’t be any better choice of staying in Salalah other than Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara. This is the finest and premium resort in the city with private pool villas, which are not available in other resorts.

The location of Anantara is excellent. It is next to the famous tourist location of Al Baleed Archeological Site, Frankincense Land Museum and is on the white sand beach of the Arabian Sea.

Indeed, it is a great place to have a fun filled family vacation. Check prices, reviews, and availability here

Mid Range: Fanar Hotel and Residences

Although Fanar Hotel and Residences is a 5 star resort, its price is almost equal to that of a 3 star hotel in the center of the city. It is located at Hawana Salalah Marina, and is by far the largest resort in Salalah.

The only drawback is that this hotel a little away from the city. But hotel will arrange the airport transfers, so there is nothing to worry about. Also if you have rent a car, or are planning to book guided tours by Beautiful Salalah then it’s an ideal pick. Check prices, reviews, and availability here

Budget: Star House Elite

There are many apartments by the name of Star House, but this one is preferred as it is a nice apartment in the center of the city. There are many restaurants, including Indian cuisine and local food, at walking distance. It’s right opposite of the largest mosque in Salalah – Sultan Qaboos Mosque.

The most unique feature of this apartment is that its on the bus route of Mwasalat public transport and you can arrive here from airport using the bus.  Also Star House Elite is at walking distance from the bus station of Mwasalat, GTC, GLT, and other intercity buses.  Check prices, reviews, and availability here

The ultimate guide for Salalah Places to Visit ends here. If there is any place that is missed, you can write in comment. If you want to visit any of these places, write to us and we can arrange the sightseeing torus for solo, family, or group.