Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque — Attraction in City Centre

Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque (Malay: Masjid Omar Ali Saifuddien, Jawi: مسجد عمر علي سيف الدين) is a mosque in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei. It is one of the country's two masjid negara or national mosques (the other Jame' Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque), as well as a national landmark. It is one of the largest and oldest mosques in the country and is named after Omar Ali Saifuddien III, the 28th Sultan of Brunei and the father of the current monarch Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. The mosque serves as a symbol of the Islamic faith in Brunei. The mosque took almost five years to build and cost more than £1 million at that time.The architectural firm involved in the construction was the Malaysia-based Booty Edwards & Partners, whereas the consulting firm was the Singapore-based Steen, Sehested and Partners. The construction work began on 4 February 1954.The construction uses 1,500 tons of concrete and 700 tons of steel.The lengths of the foundation piles are between 80–120 feet (24–37 m).The mosque was inaugurated on 26 September 1958 in conjunction with the 42nd birthday celebration of Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III.

The mosque is influenced by Mughal architecture.It was accounted that the design was first conceptualised by Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III and then developed by the commissioned architect Rudolfo Nolli, an Italian sculptor and decorative stonework contractor.

The size of the mosque is about 225 by 86 feet (69 by 26 m) and can accommodate 3,000 worshippers. It has a maximum height of 52 metres (171 ft). The dome is covered with gold. The floors and columns were built of marble from Italy at a cost of S$200,000. The interior houses a chandelier of 15 feet (4.6 m) in diameter and weighing more than three tonnes; it holds 62 fluorescent tubes. The interior is also lighted by an addition of more than 480 tubes.The floors were covered with Axminster carpets, handmade from Belgium and Saudi Arabia.The mosque sits on a 5-acre (2.0 ha) site and almost surrounded by a man-made lagoon. In the middle of the lagoon sits the Mahligai, an artificial barge in which the design is meant to resemble a ship of Sultan Bolkiah, a Sultan of Brunei who reigned in the 16th century. It was inaugurated on 19 December 1967 in conjunction with the 1,400th anniversary of Nuzul Al-Quran, a holiday in the Islamic calendar which commemorates the revelation of the first verses of the Qur'an. Built at a cost of B$500,000 at that time, the barge was intended to be a permanent venue for various national Islamic...

The Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque is a stunning place to visit, offering a peaceful and enriching experience. It's a beautiful mosque, and visitors are welcome during specific times of the day when prayers aren't being held. The mosque is open for visitors on weekdays between 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM, 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM, and 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM. On Fridays, please note it is closed to visitors from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM due to midday prayers.

The mosque’s architecture is truly magnificent—its design is often compared to the Taj Mahal in India, with the elegant white marble and grand dome creating a serene and majestic atmosphere. There’s also a video screen inside that provides a great educational overview of the mosque’s history, construction, and significance in Brunei.

One of the must-do things is to remove your shoes when entering the mosque, which is standard practice in most mosques. They provide ladies with traditional robes to wear while inside, ensuring that everyone dresses respectfully. It adds to the experience of immersing yourself in the cultural and spiritual heritage of Brunei.

The mosque sits on a lovely site with a beautiful pond on one side, adding to its tranquility and enhancing its overall beauty. It's also an excellent spot to catch a breathtaking sunset, as the mosque overlooks the water and offers a panoramic view...

This magnificent mosque sits at the very heart of the capital city and the country's Islamic faith.

Built in 1958 and named after the 28th Sultan Of Brunei, it is one of the most impressive mosques in South-East Asia.

Set amid its own lagoon, the mosque seems to be floating, surrounded by lush greenery and floral gardens, while its glittering dome, covered in real gold, soars above the skyline.

Featuring luminous stained glass windows, floors of gleaming Italian marble, walls of Shanghai granite, chandeliers from Britain and Carpets from Saudi Arabia, the mosque brings together the world's best materials in a tour de force of architectural beauty and spiritual ambience.

A marble bridge across the lagoon brings you to a replica of a 16th century Royal Barge, which used to host religious ceremonies, like Quran reading competitions.

At night, the mosque is illuminated, making it a vision to be seen.

Opening Hours : Sun-Wed, 8am until 5:30pm, EXCEPT at Prayer times Closed : Thurs-Fri

Shoes are to be removed before entering.

Dress appropriately For Men : No shorts, No Sleeveless (wear long pants) For Women : No singlets, No shorts, must cover leg (wear long pants)

This mosque is simply gigantic! Like in 1001 night!!!

Beautiful park, beautiful details, beautiful objects!

The highlight is really a walk here...