Sultan Qaboos mosque. (Mosaic).

The Omani ruler, Sultan Qaboos bin Said, like all wise leaders, attaches great importance to his country's economic and social development. Over the past three decades he has transformed Oman from a sleepy desert backwater into the bustling vibrant country it is today. But while creating an atmosphere where business and commerce thrive, Sultan Qaboos has not neglected the spiritual and intellectual sides of his country's character, recognising that in order to ensure comprehensive, balanced development equal importance must be afforded to both the material and the spiritual aspects of life.

This integrated approach is illustrated by the fact that since the dawn of the renaissance period, which began with his accession to power in 1970, Sultan Qaboos has made provision for the construction of a number of large mosques…