Ghala & Al-Ghubrah

Lonely Planet review

Also known as the Grand mosque, Ghala & Al-Ghubrah is a glorious piece of modern Islamic architecture. It was a gift to the nation from Sultan Qaboos to mark the 30th year of his reign. Quietly imposing from the outside, the main prayer hall is breathtakingly rich. The Persian carpet alone is 70m x 60m wide, making it the largest carpet in the world; it took 600 women four years to weave.

When visiting the mosque, long sleeves and trousers (not jeans) or long skirts should be worn, and women should cover their hair. As when entering all mosques, you should remove your shoes and take care not to touch the Quran. If you sit on the carpet, make sure your feet are tucked behind you - it is offensive to Muslims if you point the soles of your feet at them.

Al-Ghubrah and Ghala lie some 8km west of Al-Khuwair. If you're visiting the mosque from Muscat in the summer, its easier to take a taxi rather than catch the bus: it's a hot walk crossing the highway via the overpass. Plenty of buses stop outside the mosque bound for Ruwi.