Grand mosque & new moon

n 1992, Qaboos bin Said al Said, Sultan of Oman, directed that his country should have a Grand mosque . A competition for its design took place in 1993 and after a site was chosen at Bausher construction commenced in 1994.A masterpiece which created with the help of Iranian architects from Nishapur. Quietly imposing from the outside, this glorious piece of modern Islamic architecture was a gift to the nation from sultan Qaboos to mark his 30th year of reign. The main prayer hall is breathtakingly beautiful. The Persian carpet alone measures 70m by 60m wide, making it the second-largest hand-loomed Iranian carpet in the world; it took 600 women four years to weave.