Al Fateh Grand Mosque takes its name from Ahmed Al Fateh, who conquered Bahrain from the Persians in 1783 and founded the Al Khalifa dynasty that still rules today. Completed in 1988, the mosque can hold up to 7,000 worshippers and remains the largest mosque in the country. The dome — one of the largest fiberglass domes in the world at the time of construction — was a deliberate engineering choice: marble was rejected because fiberglass performs better under the extremes of a Gulf summer, where temperatures exceed 45°C and the sun would cause marble to expand and crack over time.
Non-Muslims are welcome to visit outside prayer times, with guided tours available on most mornings. The complex includes the mosque itself, a large library holding thousands of Islamic texts, and exhibition spaces covering Islamic art and architecture. Modest dress is required; abayas are available at the entrance for visitors who need them. The interior is cooled by a sophisticated air conditioning system and finished in Italian marble, Bohemian crystal chandeliers, and Indian teak woodwork — materials sourced from across the world. Give it an hour.