Jame' Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque

The Jame’ Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque in Bandar Seri Begawan is Brunei’s largest mosque, commissioned by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and completed in the 1990s. It is a principal national and religious landmark.

The complex is distinguished by multiple gilded domes and four tall minarets, a large central prayer hall and extensive landscaped forecourts with reflecting pools. The mosque is used for major communal prayers and national religious events, and its grounds are a common stop on city sightseeing routes.

Built as a modern national mosque during the later 20th century, the complex was funded and commissioned by the Sultan and completed in the 1990s to serve the capital’s growing religious needs and to mark national identity.

The mosque sits in the capital, Bandar Seri Begawan, close to the city center and the historic Kampong Ayer river settlement, easily reached from other central city landmarks.

• Visitor access and dress code: Non-Muslim visitors are generally permitted outside of prayer times but must follow a strict modest dress code and any instructions from mosque staff.
• Architecture highlights: The mosque is notable for its multiple gilded domes and tall minarets, which form a prominent silhouette in Bandar Seri Begawan.

What to See #

• Main prayer hall: A large covered prayer hall and complex of prayer aisles and halls designed for congregational use, with ornate interior decoration and carpeted floors used for major prayers and festivals.
• Courtyards and reflecting pools: Landscaped courtyard areas with reflecting pools and gardens that frame the mosque and are part of the visitor approach to the complex.