Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi

Published on : 2022 - Sep - 10

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Features information that is relevant to travellers who are thinking about and actively planning a visit Dubai or any part of the Arab World.

Sheikh Zayed Mosque
Sheikh Zayed Mosque

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.

Sheikh Zayed Mosque
Sheikh Zayed Mosque

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