Grand Mosque of Riau Sultan, Royal mosque in Penyengat Island, Indonesia

The Grand Mosque of Riau Sultan is a place of worship on Penyengat Island featuring thirteen domes and four minarets painted in yellow and green. The building rises on elevated ground, making it visible from across the harbor and surrounding waters.

The mosque began around 1771–1815 as a simple wooden building with a brick floor and a minaret about 6 metres tall. In 1832, during the reign of Yang Dipertuan Muda Raja Abdurrahman (1831–1844), it was rebuilt in concrete on the first day of Syawal 1248 AH, coinciding with Idul Fitri, after the Sultan called on people across the Riau-Lingga region to contribute materials and labour. The three-metre foundation was finished in three weeks.

The mosque brings together residents for daily prayers and celebrations of Islamic holidays throughout the year. Its yellow and green domes and minarets make it a recognizable landmark that shapes how people see the islands.

To visit the mosque, take a water taxi from Tanjung Pinang harbor to reach the island. Boats run throughout the day, so you have flexibility in timing, though you should allow enough time for the crossing.

The mortar for the mosque mixed egg whites with sand and lime, a substitute the architect chose after workers, tired of eating donated eggs, discarded the whites. The 50-centimetre-thick walls have stood without renovation since 1832.