Undoubtedly a Modern Wonder!
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is located at the entrance of the city and is named after the first president of the UAE, the late Sultan Al Nahyan. Words fall short to describe! It is hard to miss its pristine white walls symbolizing purity and piety, the domes and minarets during the day. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is very tastefully adorned with Greek and Italian white marble – considered to be one of the most pure in the world.
Architecture and Style
The architectural style of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is made from a combination of Mamluk, Ottoman and Fatimid styles – describe as “A fusion of Arab, Persian, Mughal and Moorish” with the purpose of fusing the diverse Islamic world with art and beauty – the result is simply stunning.
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
Unique floral motifs climb up each of the columns gracefully. Over 17,000 square meter courtyard with bigger floral motifs decorate the mosaic floor.
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
Magnificent Interior
Inside the hall of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, are seven chandeliers made of crystal and Swarovski crystals, which were shipped and made in Germany. I find the colours and crystals to be so enchanting that I always take my time just admiring the wonderful chandeliers.
It can also be astonishing to know that the mosque can accommodate 40,000 worshipers at a time, and along with many more architectural wonders you will feel the real awe of everything this incredible masterpiece has to offer.
You will witness the largest carpet in the world but also seven chandeliers made of crystal and Swarovski –shipped and made in Germany. The biggest one is the third largest in the world weighing approximately 12 tons.
Night lighting
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque has a unique lighting system which will reflect the moon’s phases. This means that each day the lighting looks a bit different. To make this possible, twenty-two light towers with a number of projectors were installed at the mosque.
8 Handy Tips for Visiting
- The ideal time to visit the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is around sunset. It looks magical to see the white minarets against the sharp blue sky and stare in awe at its imposing night-time silhouette.
- Before entering the main prayer hall, you will be required to remove your footwear.
- Once inside the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque there are several roped off areas where children cannot go. For little wanderers, you may want reins, or a sling to carry your smaller ones as they do not take fondly to people crossing over the roped line. A slow walk around the inside may take upwards of 15-20 minutes if you’re a details person.
- Young children don’t need to be covered to enter the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, but adolescence onward are to be covered as adults –full arms and legs and also head for women.
- Don’t expect food vendors so better have something to eat before coming here.
- Spare yourself between 2 hours to explore the mosque thoroughly. It’s an incredibly large complex and there will be much to admire and take photos. Don’t forget it takes a bit of time to hire and collect the Abaya so make sure you have enough time set aside in order to not feel rushed.
- Closed until 4:30 on Friday –holy day in the Islamic world although it opens briefly for worshipers in the evening but it is better to avoid.
- The doors of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque are open to welcome everyone to appreciate the splendor of the building. You can take a guided tour or simply visit the mosque to enjoy the tranquility and its artistic splendor.
