Asia is home to some of the world’s largest, most stunning and historically significant mosques.
In this list, we’re counting down the 20 largest mosques in Asia, ranked primarily by capacity, and covering sites from West Asia (the Middle East) to South, Southeast, Central, and East Asia.
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A mosque is a place where Muslims gather to pray and worship. It typically has a large prayer hall, a mihrab (a niche indicating the direction of Mecca), and often a minaret (a tower from which the call to prayer is announced). It’s a communal space for religious activities, educational purposes, and sometimes social events.
1. Masjid al-Haram – Saudi Arabia
Capacity: 4,000,000
Located in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Masjid al-Haram is the largest mosque in the world and the holiest site in Islam. Surrounding the Kaaba, the qibla for Muslims worldwide, it can accommodate up to 4 million worshippers during peak periods like Hajj.
With origins dating back to the 7th century, it has undergone multiple expansions under various Islamic rulers, including the recent Saudi-led developments making it a marvel of modern engineering and spiritual significance.
2. Al-Masjid Al-Nabawī (The Prophet's Mosque) – Saudi Arabia
Capacity: 1,500,000
Located in the city of Medina, Saudi Arabia, Al-Masjid Al-Nabawī (also known as the Prophet’s Mosque) is the second holiest site in Islam after Masjid al-Haram.
Originally built by the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in 622 CE, it now holds immense historical and religious significance. The mosque is renowned for its iconic green dome, which sits above the Prophet’s tomb. After numerous expansions, particularly under modern Saudi leadership, it can now accommodate over 1.5 million worshippers during peak times.
3. Grand Jamia Mosque – Pakistan
Capacity: 800,000
Located in Bahria Town, Lahore, Pakistan, the Grand Jamia Mosque can host up to 70,000 worshippers, making it the third-largest mosque in Pakistan.
Opened in 2014 and designed by Nayyar Ali Dada, it features Mughal, Persian, and Indo-Islamic architectural influences. The mosque’s interior is made with over 4 million handmade tiles, Turkish carpets, and Iranian chandeliers, and includes a museum and library.
4. Imam Reza Shrine – Iran
Capacity: 700,000
Located in Mashhad, Iran, the Imam Reza Shrine is a vast complex centered around the tomb of Imam Ali ibn Musa al-Ridha, the eighth Imam of Twelver Shia Islam. It is the largest mosque in Iran and one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in the world. The complex includes courtyards, libraries, seminaries, and museums, and can host up to 700,000 worshippers.
With origins tracing back to the 9th century, it has been continuously expanded by various Persian dynasties, blending exquisite Islamic architecture with deep spiritual reverence.
Interior view
5. Al-Aqsa Mosque – Palestine
Capacity: 400,000
Located in Jerusalem’s Old City, the Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound (also known as Al-Haram Al-Sharif) is the third holiest site in Islam. It includes the silver-domed Al-Aqsa Mosque and the iconic Dome of the Rock.
With capacity for around 400,000 worshippers across the compound, it has been a center of Islamic worship since the 7th century. The site holds deep religious, historical, and political significance, revered in Islamic tradition as the location of the Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) night journey and ascension.
6. Faisal Mosque – Pakistan
Capacity: 300,000
Located in Islamabad, Pakistan, the Faisal Mosque—named after Saudi King Faisal—was completed in 1986 and served as the largest mosque in the world until 1993. Inspired by a Bedouin tent and designed by Turkish architect Vedat Dalokay, it features four towering 90 m minarets and no traditional dome.
It is Pakistan’s national mosque and the largest in South Asia, accommodating up to approximately 300,000 worshippers across its courtyard, porticoes, and prayer hall.
7. Astana Grand Mosque – Kazakhstan
Capacity: 235,000
Located in Nur-Sultan (formerly Astana), Kazakhstan, the Astana Grand Mosque is the largest in Central Asia and one of the biggest in the world. Opened in August 2022, it can accommodate up to 235,000 worshippers, with 35,000 indoors and the rest in its vast courtyards.
Designed with Kazakh cultural elements, it features four 130m minarets, a massive central dome, and the world’s largest handmade carpet. The mosque stands as a modern symbol of faith and national identity.
8. Istiqlal Mosque – Indonesia
Capacity: 200,000
Located in Jakarta, Indonesia, Istiqlal Mosque is the largest in Southeast Asia and a symbol of the nation’s independence.
Commissioned by President Sukarno and completed in 1978, it can accommodate up to 200,000 worshippers. The mosque has a striking 45-meter dome and a 90-meter minaret, and was designed by Christian architect Friedrich Silaban.
Built opposite Jakarta Cathedral, it stands as a powerful symbol of religious harmony and national unity.
9. Taj-ul-Masajid – India
Capacity: 175,000
Located in Bhopal, India, Taj-ul-Masajid, which meaning “Crown of Mosques”, s the largest mosque in India and one of the largest in Asia.
Construction began in the late 19th century under Nawab Shah Jahan Begum, one of the few female Muslim rulers of the time, but was halted due to lack of funds. It was later completed in 1985 with the support of local scholars.
The mosque can host around 175,000 worshippers and features striking Mughal-inspired architecture, with pink sandstone walls, marble domes, and two 18-storey minarets.
Painting of Taj-ul-Masajid
10. Jamkaran Mosque – Iran
Capacity: 150,000
Located near the city of Qom in Iran, Jamkaran Mosque is a major Shia pilgrimage site with deep spiritual significance.
Believed by many to be linked to Imam Mahdi, the awaited savior in Shia Islam, the mosque has attracted millions of visitors annually, especially on Tuesday nights. Originally built in the 10th century, it has been significantly expanded in recent decades and can now accommodate over 150,000 worshippers.
11. Umayyad Mosque – Syria
Capacity: 100,000
Located in Damascus, Syria, the Umayyad Mosque is one of the oldest and most significant mosques in the world, completed in 715 CE under Caliph Al-Walid I.
Built on the site of a former Roman temple and Byzantine church, it showcases early Islamic architecture with intricate mosaics, towering minarets, and a vast prayer hall. It is also believed to house the tomb of Prophet Yahya (John the Baptist), adding to its religious significance.
Despite suffering damage from fires, invasions, and recent conflict, it remains standing and active, symbolizing Syria’s enduring spiritual and cultural heritage.
A mosaic on the Damascus Barada Panel first drawn in the 8th century (repaired in 13th century)
12. Badshahi Mosque – Pakistan
Capacity: 100,000
Located in Lahore, Pakistan, the Badshahi Mosque is one of the grandest examples of Mughal architecture and was the largest mosque in the world at the time of its completion in 1673.
Commissioned by Emperor Aurangzeb, it can accommodate around 100,000 worshippers across its prayer hall and expansive courtyard. Built from red sandstone with white marble inlay, its majestic domes and four towering minarets make it a historic and architectural landmark.
During British rule, it was used as a military garrison before being restored to its original religious function. Today, it stands as a symbol of Lahore’s rich Islamic heritage and imperial past.
13. Bahria Grand Mosque – Pakistan
Capacity: 70,000
Located in Bahria Town, Lahore, Pakistan, the Grand Jamia (Bahria Grand) Mosque was inaugurated in October 2014 and can host up to 70,000 worshippers, including 25,000 indoors.
Designed by Nayyar Ali Dada, it blends Mughal, Persian, and Sheikh Zayed-inspired architecture and is adorned with 4 million handmade Multani tiles, Turkish carpets, and over 50 Iranian chandeliers.
Built under the patronage of Malik Riaz, the mosque also houses an Islamic heritage museum, library, women’s prayer areas, and art gallery, combining spiritual purpose with cultural enrichment
14. Çamlıca Mosque – Turkey
Capacity: 63,000
Located on Çamlıca Hill in Istanbul, Turkey, the Çamlıca Mosque is the largest in the country, opened in March 2019. It can accommodate up to 63,000 worshippers and features six minarets, with the tallest standing at 107 meters.
The mosque’s neo-Ottoman design is inspired by classical architecture, including a 72-meter-high central dome. Commissioned by President Erdoğan, it was notably designed by two female architects.
Beyond worship, the complex includes a museum, library, art gallery, and conference hall. It stands as a modern symbol of Turkey’s Islamic heritage and national pride.
15. Al Jabbar Grand Mosque – Indonesia
Capacity: 60,000
Located in Bandung, Indonesia, the Al Jabbar Grand Mosque, also known as the Floating Mosque, was officially inaugurated in December 2022.
It can accommodate up to 33,000 worshippers and features a striking geometric design with stained-glass-inspired panels and a reflective water feature surrounding the structure. Commissioned by West Java’s provincial government, the mosque blends Islamic motifs with modern architecture.
Its name, “Al Jabbar,” references one of Allah’s 99 names and also symbolizes Bandung’s identity in science and faith.
Interior view
16. Jameh Mosque of Makki – Iran
Capacity: 60,000
17. Al-Akbar Mosque – Indonesia
Capacity: 59,000
Located in Surabaya, Indonesia, Al‑Akbar Mosque is the second-largest mosque in the country, inaugurated on 10 November 2000.
Designed by the Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember team, it can accommodate approximately 59,000 worshippers across its prayer hall and outdoor areas.
Its signature feature is a massive blue-green central dome surrounded by four smaller domes, and a 99-meter minaret symbolizing the 99 names of Allah.
18. Al Saleh Mosque – Yemen
Capacity: 44,000
Located in Sanaa, Yemen, Al‑Saleh Mosque, also known as the Great Mosque of Sanaa, is the largest and most modern mosque in the country. Commissioned by President Ali Abdullah Saleh and inaugurated in November 2008, it cost around US $60 million and spans approximately 27,300 m².
The mosque can accommodate about 44,000 worshippers in its vast central hall (13,596 m²), with full capacity across its grounds including courtyards and facilities. Its design fuses traditional Yemeni and Islamic architectural elements, featuring five domes, six towering minarets (four reaching 100 m), stained-glass windows, carved oak ceilings, and a library
The mosque also includes separate prayer areas for women, a madrasa, and a museum opened in 2013 chronicling Saleh’s presidency.
Interior view
19. Baitul Mukarram Mosque – Bangladesh
Capacity: 42,000
Located in central Dhaka, Bangladesh, Baitul Mukarram Mosque is the national mosque, completed in 1968. Designed by architect Abdulhusein M. Thariani, its unique modernist structure was inspired by the Kaaba’s cuboid shape.
Originally accommodating 30,000 worshippers, later expansions increased its capacity to over 40,000.
The eight-story mosque combines modern lines with Mughal design elements and includes facilities such as libraries, shops, and offices. It remains a central hub for religious life in Bangladesh, especially during major Islamic holidays.
20. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque – United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Capacity: 41,000
Located in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is one of the world’s largest and most opulent mosques.
Completed in 2007 and named after the UAE’s founding father, it can accommodate over 40,000 worshippers.
The mosque features 82 domes, over 1,000 columns, and four towering minarets, blending Mamluk, Ottoman, and Fatimid architectural styles.
It is home to one of the world’s largest hand-knotted carpets and several massive crystal chandeliers. Known for its striking white marble and reflective pools, it stands as a symbol of unity, tolerance, and Islamic artistry.
Conclusion
So, there we have it. The 20 largest mosques in Asia! These mosques aren’t just places of worship; they’re cultural landmarks that reflect Africa’s rich Islamic heritage. Each mosque has a unique story and design, offering a glimpse into the diverse and unified Islamic faith across the continent.
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