Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque

오마르 알리 사이푸딘 모스크

The white mosque that symbolises Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei's capital, with a golden dome reflected in an artificial lagoon. A stone replica of a 16th-century royal barge sits in the water.

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At a glance

Country: Brunei
Location: Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
Built: 1958
Height: 52 m
Type: Religious building

Quick answers

Where is Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque?

Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque is in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei.

When was Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque built?

Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque was built in 1958.

How tall is Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque?

Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque is about 52 m tall.

The Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque is a white mosque in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei. Its golden dome dominates the city's skyline, and it is one of the most photographed icons of the country. It can hold about 3,000 worshippers and measures 69 by 26 metres.

The mosque was finished in 1958 and is named after Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III, the 28th sultan of Brunei. It stands beside a man-made lagoon on the Brunei River and is one of the country's two state mosques. Built over five years, it was officially opened by the sultan on 26 September 1958, and it is seen as a bridge between the country's past and present.

Building the mosque

A committee looked for a site starting in 1952, and building began on 4 February 1954. The sultan asked for it to be beside the river for the sake of the people of Kampong Ayer, a famous water village.

Construction used about 1,400 tonnes of concrete and 640 tonnes of steel. The mosque opened on 26 September 1958 at a cost of about US$5 million.

Look and surroundings

The design is strongly influenced by Mughal architecture. Inside, the walls are made of Italian marble and the floors have rugs from Saudi Arabia.

In the lagoon sits a stone copy of a royal barge, a ceremonial ship. Many tourists visit for the view, but the mosque's main use is prayer.

Inside and out

Many of the materials came from far away: Italian marble covering the floors and columns, granite from Shanghai, English chandeliers and stained glass. The dome is covered in a mosaic of more than three million Venetian glass pieces. The main minaret is 51 metres tall, the tallest in Brunei, and four smaller minarets stand with it. The Mahligai, a copy of the 16th-century royal barge of Sultan Bolkiah, was opened in 1967 and cost about 500,000 Brunei dollars. Its design is based on the traditional longboats of Borneo. Queen Elizabeth II visited the mosque in 1972.

Fun facts

Its golden dome is covered with a mosaic of more than 3 million pieces of Venetian glass.
The golden dome is covered in a mosaic of more than three million pieces of Venetian glass.
A stone replica of a royal barge floats in the lagoon.
The mosque was finished in five years.
The main minaret is 51 metres tall, the highest in Brunei.