Al-Kauthar Mosque Tawau — Largest Mosque in Sabah
What is the Al-Kauthar Mosque in Tawau?
The Al-Kauthar Mosque is the largest mosque in Sabah, on the Tawau beachfront. Opened in 2004, it seats 17,000 worshippers and its white square building is crowned by a dome rising 58 metres high.
What is the Al-Kauthar Mosque?
The Al-Kauthar Mosque is a major mosque located on the beachfront in Tawau, in the south-east of Sabah. It is best known as the largest mosque in the state, able to hold a congregation of 17,000 worshippers.
Its size and coastal setting make it the principal landmark of Muslim worship in Tawau and one of the most significant mosques in Sabah as a whole. The building is a striking white square structure topped by a single large dome.
For visitors travelling through Tawau, the mosque is a notable point of interest, both for its scale and for its position overlooking the sea.
The largest mosque in Sabah
With a capacity of 17,000 worshippers, the Al-Kauthar Mosque is the largest mosque in Sabah. That capacity comfortably exceeds the other major mosques in the state, including the Kota Kinabalu City Mosque and the Sabah State Mosque.
| Mosque | Location | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Al-Kauthar Mosque | Tawau | 17,000 |
| Kota Kinabalu City Mosque | Likas Bay, KK | 9,000–12,000 |
| Sabah State Mosque | Sembulan, KK | ~5,000 |
History and construction
Construction of the Al-Kauthar Mosque started on 19 June 1997 and was completed in October 2002. The mosque was officially opened on 13 August 2004 by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin.
The project was built at a cost of RM31.5 million, in keeping with its scale as the largest mosque in the state. The years between groundbreaking and official opening reflect the size and complexity of the build.
Architecture and the great dome
The mosque is a white square building dominated by a single soaring dome. The dome rises 58 metres high and has a circumference of 20 metres, making it the defining feature of the structure and a focal point visible from a distance.
The clean white form against the coastal backdrop gives the mosque a distinctive appearance among Sabah's places of worship. Its scale, combined with the beachfront location, makes it a memorable architectural landmark for Tawau.
Visiting the mosque
As an active place of worship, the Al-Kauthar Mosque should be visited respectfully. General mosque etiquette applies to all visitors:
- Cover your arms and legs and dress modestly.
- Remove your shoes before entering prayer areas.
- Speak quietly and avoid disturbing worshippers.
- Avoid prayer times, especially Friday congregational prayers, when the mosque is busiest.
The beachfront setting also makes the exterior and surroundings worth taking in, with the great dome standing out against the sky and the sea.
Other notable mosques in Sabah
Beyond Tawau, Sabah has several other mosques of note across its main cities and towns:
Sandakan Jamek Mosque (Masjid Jamek Sandakan): Opened in 1890, this is the oldest mosque in Sandakan. It was founded by Damsah, a Muslim cloth merchant from British India. During the Second World War it was used as a hiding place, and bullet holes from a WWII battle between Japanese and British soldiers are still visible on its pillars. The mosque is part of the Sandakan Heritage Trail and remains in active use.
Kota Kinabalu City Mosque: The Likas Floating Mosque, opened in 2000, appears to float on a lagoon beside the South China Sea and is one of the capital's most photographed sites. Read about the City Mosque.
Sabah State Mosque: The state's official mosque in Sembulan, opened in 1977, with a 215-foot minaret that is a fixture of the Kota Kinabalu skyline. Read about the State Mosque.