A breathtaking fusion of faith, culture, and architectural brilliance that unites the world in harmony
Whenever you are visiting Abu Dhabi, keep at least one full day to visit the world-famous Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosqueto feel the incredible blend of spirituality, modern architectural marvel, peace, and the beauty of harmony. It was built by the founder of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The construction began in 1996 and took approximately 11 years, and its design and construction ‘unites the world,’ using artisans, craftsmen, and materials from many countries, including Italy, Germany, Morocco, India, Turkey, China, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Greece, and of course, the United Arab Emirates. More than 3,000 workers and 38 construction companiesparticipated in the mosque’s construction. Natural materials were used, including marble, stone, gold, semi-precious stones, crystals, and ceramics. It opened for worship on Eid Al Adha in 2007.
On the outskirts of Abu Dhabi, the mosque was built on elevated land that rises about 10 metres. It spreads over 5,55,000 square metres and can accommodate approximately 55,000 worshippers.The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is a living reference of modern Islamic architecture, combining elements from various cultures across the Islamic civilisation through its exquisite aesthetics and unique collections, which have become the world’s focus. It also reflects the forward-looking vision of the founder, who sought for the mosque to become a prominent religious and cultural edifice and a platform promoting tolerance and cross-cultural communication. This vision is also pursued by our leadership and is embodied through the mosque’s position as a leading attraction for visitors from all over the world, firmly placing it on the world tourist map.
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque attracts millions of visitors from all walks of life who blend in harmony within a framework of noble values that emanate from the tolerant nature of Islam, which is an essential part of the principles and values ingrained in Emirati society.This grand edifice’s captivating design and architecture vividly embody the founding fathers’ forward-looking visionfor the mosque to be a pioneering religious and cultural landmark, a global destination, a meeting place for cultures, and a platform promoting tolerance and cross-cultural communication, deeply rooted within UAE society.
A vision also pursued by our leadership, embodied through the mosque’s position as a leading global attraction, placing it firmly on the world tourist map. Throughout the day, certified Quran reciters rotate, taking turns to recite the Qur’an 24/7 at the mausoleum of the late founder, with whom the UAE people shared a strong bond and affectionately called ‘Father’, holding him in high regard.With his deep insight and wise leadership, Sheikh Zayed led the renaissance of the UAE, which today embraces more than two hundred nationalities from different cultures, all living together in harmony and peace.
The name ‘Zayed’ will continue to live on in our hearts, his teachings will remain an inspiration for future generations, and he will always be our guiding light.The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque includes 82 domes of various sizes, combining harmonious forms of Islamic architecture, predominantly inspired by Moroccan and Mughal styles. The largest dome, located at the centre of the main prayer hall, has a diameter of approximately 32.6 metres and a height of 84 metres. The white marble cladding, the onion-shaped crowns, and the crescent-shaped finials decorated with gold-glass mosaic are striking features that distinguish the dome’s design.
The windows at the bottom of the dome allow natural light to enter the prayer halls. The inside of the domes features traditional Moroccan artwork, made of reinforced plaster (GRG), decorated with verses from the Holy Qur’an, using different Arabic calligraphy styles such as Naskh, Thuluth, and Kufi. The pure white colour of the mosque is one of its most distinctive characteristics, as it symbolises purity, virtue, and peace-qualities cherished by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
GRAND CARPET
The main prayer hall houses the world’s largest hand-knotted carpet, certified by Guinness World Records in 2007. The intricate Islamic medallion carpet was hand-knotted by approximately 1,200 artisans and took around two years to complete, including eight months for designing and 12 months for knotting. It was created in nine separate pieces, flown to Abu Dhabi, and stitched together on-site. The final carpet, which covers the entire Main Prayer Hall, measures 5,400 square metres, weighs 35 tons, and consists of 70% New Zealand wool and 30% cotton. The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque houses seven chandeliers that blend harmoniously with its unique design.
— The author is a solo traveller and freelance writer
