Adorned with Italian marble, English chandeliers and Arabic carpets, the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque is a symbol of Brunei's wealth.
The mosque, located in the city of Bandar Seri Begawan, was built in the mid-twentieth century and is considered one of the finest examples of Islamic art in the Far East, a symbol of the Islamic faith in Brunei and the most characteristic building in the city. It bears the name of the 28th Sultan of Brunei, one of the richest men in the world.
El estilo arquitectónico del edificio es una combinación de elementos propiamente islámicos con inspiraciones de arte italiano. Los planos fueron elaborados por Booty y Edwards Chartered Architects, según los diseños del arquitecto italiano Rodolfo Nolli. Su cúpula está hecha de oro puro y puede distinguirse prácticamente desde cualquier punto de Bandar Seri Begawan.
Ali Saifuddin, Sultan of Brunei.
Omar Italian architect Rodolfo Nolli.
The architectural style of the building is a combination of Islamic elements with Italian art inspirations. The plans were drawn up by Booty and Edwards Chartered Architects, based on the designs of Italian architect Rodolfo Nolli. Its dome is made of pure gold and can be seen from almost any point in Bandar Seri Begawan.
As for its main minaret, this is the highest point in the entire city; it rises to more than 164-feet and visitors who profess the Islamic faith can reach the top through an elevator, and is the part that incorporates more Italian and Renaissance elements, something unique in any mosque in the world.
It has other white marble minarets also crowned with golden domes, courtyards with gardens full of fountains, flowers and trees... an Islamic representation of heaven.
The dome of the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque can be seen from any point in Bandar Seri Begawan.
Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin, to whom it is dedicated, directed the designs of the Sultanate for 35 years and was also the leader who achieved independence from the United Kingdom in the 80s. He died two years later, in 1986.
The Mosque of Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Sultan is built on an artificial pond near the bank of the Brunei River. Two bridges are located here, one that crosses to the water village called Kampong Ayer and another marble bridge that resembles a boat - which is a replica of the one used by Sultan Bolkiah in the sixteenth century - used for official ceremonies.
Among the most prevalent interior elements are mosaics, crystals and chandeliers from England, Italian marble arches and columns, granite from Shanghai and carpets from Saudi Arabia. The design itself incorporates local touches, such as the thick rope-like columns reminiscent of the Kalat of Brunei.
The mosque is open to the public at certain times: Monday-Wednesday and Saturday-Sunday, 8:30-12:00, 13:30-15:00 and 16:30-17:30. Thursdays only during the latter hours. To enter, it is necessary to remove shoes and wear special gowns (provided on site). Silence must be maintained at all times and it is forbidden to take photographs of people in prayer.
To reach the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque, you have to cross a pond.
The main minaret is more than 164-feet high.
Text: Alejandra Cañedo ± Photo: Wirestock, Unofficial Royalty, National Singapore, WPK, Expedia