The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is the largest mosque in the United Arab Emirates, and it is the key place of worship for daily prayers. During Eid, it is visited by more than 41,000 people. The mosque is located in Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the UAE.
The Architecture of the Mosque
It was constructed between 1996 and 2007 on 12 hectares of land excluding exterior landscaping and vehicle parking. The building is aligned in the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Natural materials such as marble stone, gold, semi-precious stones, crystals and ceramics were used in the construction. The building has 1,096 amethyst-and-jasper-embedded columns, 82 white marble domes, reflective pools, gold-plated Swarovski chandeliers, an iconic prayer hall, and a courtyard featuring one of the largest marble mosaic artworks in the world. The mosque holds a Guinness World Record for the largest hand-woven carpet and also boasts one of the largest chandeliers in a mosque. It is interesting to look at the calligraphy encircling the hollows of its domes, etched with verses from the Quran and painted with gold leaf in An-Naskh lettering.
Founder of the Mosque
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Founding father of the UAE, had the mosque built in the capital city Abu Dhabi to create a cultural haven that would unite the cultural diversity of the Islamic world with the historical and modern values of architecture and art. In 2004, Sheikh Zayed died and was buried in the courtyard of the mosque.
The Offices
Administrative offices offices are located in the west minarets. These offices also conduct educational cultural activities and visitor programs. In the northeast minaret is the library with classic books and publications addressing a range of Islamic subjects: sciences, civilisation, calligraphy, the arts, and coins, including some rare publications. The collection comprises material in a broad range of languages, including Arabic, English, French, Italian, Spanish, German, and Korean.
Daily Prayer
The mosque can accommodate over 40,000 worshipers, while the main prayer hall can hold over 7,000. There are two smaller prayer halls, with a capacity of 1,500 each, one of which is reserved for women’s prayer. The four minarets on the four corners of the courtyard rise about 107 m in height.
Best time to visit the Mosque .
At about dusk is the best time to visit the mosque because the fading sunlight bounces off the white facade to create a beautiful glow, and after the sunset, you can witness the majesty of the building as it becomes illuminated by lights. Nevertheless you will enjoy the visit regardless of what time you arrive. Free guided tours, in Arabic and English, are the best way to get the most from your visit. Dress code requires that shoulders and knees must be covered and shoes must be removed at the entry gate. Women are also asked to wear abayas which are provided free of charge.
This is the main museum in Dubai. It is located in the Al Fahidi Fort. It was built in 1787 and is the oldest existing building in Dubai. The museum was opened in 1971 by the Ruler of Dubai. Dubai Museum depicts the traditional way of life in the Emirate of Dubai. It houses local antiques as well as artifacts from African and Asian countries that traded historically with Dubai. It also has recent archeological discoveries that could be as old as 3000 BC. There are also several dioramas which shows the life in Dubai before oil was discovered.
Dubai Museum
The total area of the museum is 4,000 square meters. The Museum received over 1 million visitors in 2013. There is a model of a mosque, house and family in the museum. There are also depictions of desert life with a date farm, a camel, wild animals, and a Bedouin tent filled with jewellery, trinkets and objects from the daily life of Bedouins. Bedouins are Arabic-speaking nomadic peoples of the Middle Eastern deserts. Galleries recreate scenes from the Creek, traditional Arab houses, mosques, the souk, date farms and desert and marine life.
Realistic sounds and life-size videos guide the visitor to the museum. You can expect to spend one to two hours in the museum.
Inside Dubai Museum
Al Fahidi Fort
Al Fahidi Fort, the earliest building of UAE, was built of coral rock and mortar in several phases. The fort was built for political and residential use. By 1971, after 184 years of use the fort was in battered condition. Sheikh Rasheed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum renovated the fort and converted it into a museum for visitors. In 1995, another underground museum was built and added to the old fort.
The Al Fahidi Fort Gallery
The Al Fahidi Fort Gallery descending down a spiral staircase in the south-western tower of the citadel contains artifacts dating back up to 1960 before oil was discovered. Other wings of the museum feature various relics of trade and commerce in ancient Dubai and video footage telecast at the background together give you a feeling of being on a real souq (market) in ancient Dubai. After the souq, you will find a model mosque and a desert bearing the testimony of the harsh life of the Bedouins.
Al Fahidi Fort Dioramas
The largest wing of the museum dedicated to the seafarers showcases their importance in the social structure of Dubai. The technique of making a dhow is shown here. The seafarer diorama is a must-watch in the Dubai Museum.
The largest diorama of the museum is the Al Qusais Archaeological Site which reflects various stages of Dubai’s archaeological history. The relics from Jumeirah, Al Quasis and other sites date as early as back to 2000-1000 B.C. reflecting the glorious past of the Arab world. There is also a gift shop where you can find gift items and other souvenirs at surprisingly affordable prices.
Transport to Dubai Museum Al Fahidi Fort
You can take public buses to Dubai Museum through the Ghubaiba or Fahidi bus stations nearby or take a metro from the Ghubaiba or Fahidi stations located nearby. Rented cars or tours operators also provide transportation services.
This is a historic building and former residence of Saeed bin Maktoum Al Maktoum, the former ruler of Dubai. This was built in 1896. The house was built using coral treated with lime and plaster, the standard building materials used at that time. The coral gives the whole building a pink hue.
The palace was built in a densely populated neighborhood, in the middle of the souks and very close to all the other houses. This reflects the policy of the Al Maktoum family who wanted to maintain a sense of continuity and closeness between the ruling family and the people of Dubai.
Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House
The architecture of Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House
The building depicts the architecture of the late 19th century. This structure is distinguished by the beamed roofed roofs and the woven palm leaves, the vaulted embraces, the windows, and the fine sculptures. The building includes some air towers called Barajee which provided cooling to the palace during hot months. The building was the headquarters of the civic administration and the private home of the then ruler.
Saeed Al Maktoum Building Layout
Downstairs you find the majlis (a meeting area), the dining room, kitchen, and patio. Upstairs you find the bedrooms and balconies.
Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House artifacts
Saeed Al Maktoum Building Museum
This building of 3,600 square meters with 30 rooms now houses a museum that contains artifacts and images of the old town of Dubai. The displays are distributed onto 9 wings, as follows: The History of Saeed Al Maktoum House, Al Maktoum Family, Old Dubai, Marine Life, Views from Dubai, Social Life in Dubai, Coins and Stamps, Historic Documents and Maps. The museum displays the highlights of the life and history of the great ruler and his family. There are also personal images taken with other dignitaries and officials who visited the building.
Saeed bin Maktoum Al Maktoum lived in this building till he died in 1958. Saeed bin Maktoum Al Maktoum is the grandfather of the present ruler, Sheikh Mohammed who was born here and he spent his first 10 years of life here.
Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House
Museum Opening hours
The house of Sheikh Saeed al Maktoum remains open from Saturday to Thursday from 8 am to 8.30 pm. However, it remains open on Friday between 3 pm to 9.30 pm for the visitors. Tickets for adults will cost around 15 AEDs and for children it will be 5 AED.
