Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi, UAE

The mosque is one of the largest mosques in the world and serves as a significant location of worship for Muslims in the region.

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque: Al Rawdah – Abu Dhabi – United Arab Emirates
Date Picture Taken: March, 2024

The mosque was initiated by the late President of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who wanted to establish a structure that would unite the cultural diversity of the Islamic world with the historical and modern values of architecture and art. Construction began in 1996 and was completed in 2007.

I went to Abu Dhabi for the second time to visit two famous buildings: Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and Qasr Al Watan.

I took the same route as my first trip to Abu Dhabi from Dubai: the metro, intercity bus, and the local bus.

I got off the bus and walked toward the mosque to find the entrance, but it was wrong.  The proper entrance was a dome in the back of me.

I turned around and found a dome which leads to the mosque.

The view of the mosque from near the dome

The elevator in the dome led to a shopping mall and underground walkway to the mosque, which is good because it was hot outside.

Followed a long under ground wakway to the mosque.

The panoramic view

The left side

The mosque’s design is a fusion of Arab, Mughal, and Moorish architectural styles. It features intricate marble work, floral motifs, and extensive use of gold and semi-precious stones. The white marble exterior of the mosque is punctuated by numerous domes and minarets.

The mosque can accommodate over 40,000 worshippers, making it one of the largest mosques in the world. Its main prayer hall can hold up to 7,000 worshippers.

The left side

While the mosque primarily serves as a location for worship, it is also open to non-Muslim visitors who wish to appreciate its architecture, art, and cultural significance. Guided tours are available to provide insights into the mosque’s design, construction, and cultural context.

The door to the praying area

The mosque boasts several notable features, including the world’s largest hand-knotted carpet, which covers the main prayer hall, as well as one of the largest chandeliers in the world, adorned with millions of Swarovski crystals.

Out of the prayer area

The side view from the back of the mosque

The view of the mosque from the front corner of the mosque