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Times of Oman
6 days ago
- General
- Times of Oman
Sultan Qaboos Mosque in Nizwa: A landmark embodies religious, cultural significance of A'Dakhiliyah
Nizwa — Sultan Qaboos Mosque in Nizwa, A'Dakhiliyah Governorate, embodies the historical, religious, and cultural prominence of the wilayat, distinguished by its unique architectural character that reflects authentic Omani heritage. The mosque's architectural design, inaugurated on 18 September 2015, draws inspiration from the traditional style of A'Dakhiliyah Governorate, emphasizing simplicity in form and the optimal use of interior ornamentation. The mosque is distinguished by its four minarets, which lend it a distinctive charm, setting it apart from other mosques across various wilayats. The design also incorporates traditional materials and authentic Omani building colors, reinforcing the mosque's connection to the identity of the place. The mosque is located at the intersection of major roads linking Nizwa to Muscat, Salalah, and Bahla, within a new urban development plan underway in the city. Built on an 8,000-square-meter plot adjacent to Wadi Nizwa, it is clearly visible from all directions. The mosque's floor has been significantly elevated above ground level to protect it from floods and to highlight its prominent geographical location. The mosque's structure consists of a main prayer hall covering 3,546 square meters, with interior dimensions of 60 meters by 60 meters, accommodating approximately 4,500 worshippers. The main prayer hall is accessed via the qibla axis through a grand and spacious staircase and a covered courtyard. Four additional entrances allow entry from the garden to the north and south of the mosque, leading to the courtyard area adjacent to the hall via a large staircase. The covered courtyard and two open courtyards can serve as additional prayer spaces, surrounded by an arched wall enclosing ablution areas and shoe storage cabinets. The outdoor areas can accommodate around 5,300 worshippers as supplementary prayer spaces. The mosque includes a women's prayer hall with a capacity of 434, located on the ground floor and accessible separately through external courtyards and a lobby. All main facilities of the mosque are situated on the ground floor, elevated five meters above ground level, including ablution areas, offices, and auxiliary services. Meanwhile, all equipment is housed in the service floor above the main prayer hall. The mosque's architectural design features a 27-meter-diameter dome rising 55 meters above ground, flanked by four minarets, each standing 80 meters tall, marking the four corners of the main prayer hall. The exterior finishes of the prayer hall include side buttresses and parapets atop the building, all inspired by the region's prevailing architectural style. The main prayer hall is enclosed by a protective wall clad in stone, adorned with arched forms and enhanced with Quranic inscriptions and carvings. Inside, the main prayer hall rises about 14 meters, with the dome reaching approximately 40 meters in height. The interior is finished with decorative marble, ornamental plasterwork on walls, arched niches, and ceilings painted with specialized decorative pigments inspired by regional designs. The qibla wall is extensively decorated with marble, while the marble mihrab features intricate inlay and engraving work, including complex carvings, Quranic calligraphy, and geometric and floral patterns. The prayer hall's windows incorporate delicate layers of translucent marble and stained decorative glass. Sultan Qaboos Mosque Library in Nizwa stands as one of the mosque's most important facilities. Opened alongside the mosque under the supervision of the Sultan Qaboos Higher Centre for Culture and Science, the library spans 277.50 square meters, designed across two floors around a glass-covered central courtyard. Additionally, it includes three Quran memorization classrooms built around a dedicated courtyard and a multi-purpose hall covering 306 square meters, equipped with fixed seating and audiovisual systems for instructional use. —— Ends/AH
Times of Oman
18-05-2025
- General
- Times of Oman
International Museum Day celebrated in Dhofar
Salalah: The Directorate General of Heritage and Tourism in Dhofar Governorate, in cooperation with the Directorate General of Education in the governorate, celebrated International Museum Day at the Land of Frankincense Museum in Salalah. The event, held annually on May 18, was organised under the theme "The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities." The ceremony featured a visual presentation of the projects participating in the "Omani Heritage Through a Future Lens" competition, launched by the Land of Frankincense Museum to showcase innovators in Dhofar's schools. The competition encouraged the utilisation of heritage using modern technology and artificial intelligence tools to produce visual works that narrate history through innovative methods. At the conclusion of the event, Moosa Abdullah Al Qassabi, Director General of Culture, Sports, and Youth in Dhofar Governorate, the chief guest, honoured the winning schools. Al Wadi School secured first place, while Ajyal School came second, and Qayrun Hairiti School took third place.
Times of Oman
11-05-2025
- Times of Oman
Monday column: Do we have to ruin our heritage for modern trappings?
Earlier this month, I walked into the backstreets of Muscat to enjoy the simple life there and this month I thought I should venture further and drive beyond the city to take a look, just out of curiosity. From a short distance to the Batnah towns, I ventured deeper, beyond the urban areas. I parked my car from the nearest shopping area and braved the heat of the summer to see more. In the two hours I was there, I visited forts, aflaaj systems, narrow village roads and even farms. Not many of them are left. Modern villas, new dual carriageways, bridges and shopping malls are competing with centuries old heritage. Let me correct myself, these modern trappings are actually threatening the existence of the Omani heritage. Old houses have been demolished for new ones and farms have been erased to make way for the sites of shopping centers. The old souks are not there anymore. As a matter of fact, I was looking for an auction site that I visited ten years ago and it vanished. A block of flats has been built on its site. I turned a few corners to look for the silver shops. Again, they were all gone. The silversmiths, who used to craft jewellery, such as rings, bracelets, armlets and earrings, are now ghosts from the past. Instead, I found a line of butchers, supermarkets, shoe shops, boutiques and coffee shops replacing the now gone silver shops. I also was on the lookout for the Khanjar maker, that I visited years ago. His shop, right at the end, is now a building material shop. I looked back at the street and thought that if I had taken a photo of it at that time, then I would have evidence of what it was then. Can we say what has replaced the vanishing heritage has no character? Yes, we can. It may be about progress, but at least some of these streets should have been preserved to reflect the old characters of typical Omani heritage. Yes, we understand that, as the country's population is increasing, we need to modernize for greater mobility, new housing units and expansion of businesses to boost our economy. We also understand that employment is important and we must expand the economy to create jobs. But we should have preserved some areas in the hearts of towns and cities to reflect the past and the rich culture and heritage that made this country great. Without it, the future generations will find nothing in their surrounding to reflect their heritage. As it stands now, our heritage would soon be just records in the history books. One of the economic pillars of Oman is the development of tourism. When tourists come here, they look for the old settlements, artifacts, villages, buildings, traditions and relics. If we keep demolishing them then there will be none left. When that happens, fewer tourists would come here and that would drop our national revenues. Also, our hotels that have costs billions of rials, would be mostly vacant.
