Here’s our comprehensive guide to Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque<\/a>, with snippets on its history, architecture, what a guided tour experience would look like, reviews and other handy tips that will help you plan your visit.<\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n <\/a><\/ul>\n Constructed between 1996 and 2007, the Sheikh Zayed Mosque was built as an icon of cultural diversity by the late president of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan<\/a>. He intended the mosque to symbolize the Islamic message of peace and tolerance. He strived for a tructure to celebrate and bring together the cultural diversity of the Islamic world, and merge it with the modern values of art and architecture.<\/p>\n With an open-door policy that invites all, regardless of religion, sex and age; the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque stands today as a celebrated religious site welcoming tourists and seekers alike. Diversity is even reflected in the mosque\u2019s architects (they were British, Italian and Emirati) and in the elements used (tiles were sourced from Turkey, wool from New Zealand and crystals from Germany). It now attracts more than one million visitors a year and is ranked #1 of 112 things to do in Abu Dhabi by Tripadvisor<\/p>\n The mosque was designed by a Syrian architect with the support of British, Italian and Emirati architects. The mosque includes aspects inspired by designs from Turkey, Morocco, Pakistan, Egypt and other Islamic countries. It took more than 3000 workers more than 10 years to complete the construction of the mosque.<\/p>\n The most prominent feature of the Sheikh Zayed Mosque is the pure white marble domes, decked with gold mosaic designs. There are 82 domes in total, the largest of which is located in the center of the main prayer hall. The 96 pillars inside the main prayer hall are made with mother of pearl. There are four minarets surrounding the structure that serve as the mosque\u2019s offices, a library, and centers for cultural activities and programs. The courtyard is paved with white marble tiles which are painted with elaborate floral designs. Outside the mosque, lies the tomb of the late Sheikh Zayed.<\/p>\n Walking the length and breadth of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque with an Emirati historian guide explaining the lesser known stories and lores about the mosque, telling you in detail about the artisans who carved the faint designs on the white marble and narrating the dream that Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan saw for this mosque, is a one of a kind experience. While simply taking a stroll around the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is mesmerising enough, a guided tour that draws you into the history and meaning of the mosque is what makes all the difference.<\/p>\n There are 3 slots through the day for these guided tours : 9:00 AM, 10:30 AM and 12:00 PM<\/p>\n These guided tours take place on 3 days a week – Saturday, Monday and Wednesday<\/p>\n Arrive Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque from the North Parking (Tourism) area next to Security Gate #4 and you will find your guide wearing a blue OceanAir Travels T-Shirt waiting outside the gate. Make sure to arrive atleast 10 minutes prior to the selected timeslot and display the tickets on your smartphone to proceed for the tour.<\/p>\n Inspired by Pakistan’s Badshahi Mosque<\/a> and Morocco’s Hassan II Mosque<\/a>, the mosque\u2019s central courtyard is a vast glistening white area fringed by reflective pools and inlaid columns with enough space to fit about 30,000 people. There are four high minarets that bring together three geometrical styles in each corner from three different civilisations: the Mamluk cubes from Egypt, the Fatimid-style hexagons from North Africa and the cylinderical top inspired by Turkey\u2019s Ottoman architecture.<\/p>\n There are 7 chandeliers inside the Grand Mosque, but the largest and grandest of them all hangs in the main prayer hall. Crafted from stainless steel and brass, both gilded with 40kg of 24-carat gold, this chandelier is crowned with luminous red and green crystal balls to model the date palm\u2019s fruit. It is said that almost 40 million Swarovski crystals to adorn the mosque\u2019s seven chandeliers, so make sure to look up plenty while walking around the mosque.<\/p>\n A colossal space with two side halls (one reserved exclusively for women worshippers) and a combined capacity of 10,000 people, the main prayer hall is supported by 96 soaring columns, each decked with Macedonian marble and inlaid with mother-of-pearl and other semi-precious stones. The main prayer hall also houses the world’s largest hand-knotted carpet – a tapestry measuring 5,700sqm<\/p>\n The columns are decorated with semi precious stones such as dark lapis lazuli, white mother of pearl and fancy jasper. The columns give way to painfully symmetric curved archways that reflect quintessentially Moorish, or North African Islamic, architecture.<\/p>\n With 82 onion-top domes of seven different sizes inspired from the Badshahi Mosque in Pakistan, make sure to crane your neck and look up plenty during your tour. These domes epitomise the beauty, passion and grandeur of Islam’s Mughal era and if you notice carefully, you’ll see that the inner side of the domes is intricately etched with verses from the Quran and painted with gold leaves in An-Naskh lettering.<\/p>\n The Qibla wall, the wall of Allah that is the wall facing Mecca inside the mosque is engraved with the 99 names of Allah in Kufic script. The calligraphy work is back-illuminated with fiber optic lighting. The semi-circular niche is inlaid with stripes of 24-carat gold.<\/p>\n Designed by third-generation carpet master, Dr Ali Khaliqi of Iran the largest hand-knotted carpet in the world measuring 5,700sqm is housed in the main prayer hall of the Sheikh Zayed Mosque. It is said to have taken 16 months and 1,200 artisans to make this carpet; after which it was cut into 9 pieces and transported from Iran in two jumbo jets. While it was weaved in Iran, is made of New Zealand wool.<\/p>\n The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is flanked by reflective blue tiled pools that glow under floodlights at night. These pools feature prominently in the thousands of photos sent to the Grand Mosque each year by visitors hoping to win the yearly Spaces of Light photo competition. The winning images are displayed in the lobby of the Emirates Palace Hotel and published in Spaces of Light, a hardback anthology sold in all Abu Dhabi gift shops.<\/p>\n While the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is open throughout the year, Abu Dhabi<\/a> experiences scorching summer between April and October, making it too hot and uncomfortable to visit during these months. November to May is an ideal time to visit the mosque as the weather is less humid and cooler.<\/p>\n Visiting the mosque in the evening, around 5:30 PM is deemed the best time to visit as you can walking around outside the mosque without the blistering heat burning your feet. Stick around for an hour and you can take in spectacular views of the mosque against the sunset as well. Stay on for a while longer, and you get to see the mosque illuminated in the wake of the evening sky. However, if you prefer lesser crowds in exchange for braving the heat, you can choose to visit the mosque during the afternoon hours which sees sparse visitors.<\/p>\n The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque offers spectacular views at night. The pools along the courtyard glisten against the night sky and offer a more striking reflection of the white columns. A unique lighting system is used to project varying intensities of bluish gray clouds onto the mosque\u2019s exterior walls to mirror the phases of the moon. The color of the mosque gradually changes every two days from white to blue, becoming deeper as the moon wanes. On the fourteenth night of the cycle, the mosque is lit in its deepest blue to signify a \u201cno moon\u201d. The lights are also designed to give the effect of clouds moving across the mosque.<\/p>\n Witnessing the Sheikh Zayed Mosque at night is sight of a lifetime. Schedule your visit such that you can see the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in its peak of glory at night.<\/p>\n Ranked #1 of 112 things to do in Abu Dhabi by Tripadvisor, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is nothing short of exhilarating for everyone who has stepped foot in there.<\/p>\n This destination is not to be missed. It is the only mosque that allows non-Muslims to visit. It is over the top opulent and awe inspiring. If you don’t visit while you are in Abu Dhabi, you will be sorry later. Also worth a day trip from Dubai. I did heaps of research and thought long pants and sleeves would be enough. Nope, you will still need to wear an Abaya (covers hair and body). It has the world’s largest hand knitted rug and chandelier. Please go, you will not be even a little bit sorry. I also suggest taking a guided tour to make the best of your experience. I have done a lot of traveling around the world over the last few years, and this was my #1 place to visit. Tip: take a Big Red Bus Tour as this is one of the stops, and you can also figure out other places to visit. I didn’t do so, and had to pay extra for the taxi to and from the mosque. The bus is also a great way to find out other sites to visit. Side note: try to also ride a camel in the desert. I had to get up at 6:30 AM to do so, which I typically don’t do on vacation, but was glad I did.<\/p>\n – sherryr888 , October 2018 Tripadvisor<\/b><\/p>\n My wife and I visited the mosque on a guided tour led by Mohamed Ali, a man who lived in Germany for 7 years and can communicate fluently and with flair in German and English. Dress Code: If you are a woman, dress comfortably for the weather\u2014however you want\u2014because you will not be granted entry unless you are wearing an Abaya, the traditional floor-length (black) covering. Shorts underneath are fine; you aren’t getting in without covering yourself from the head down. Your face may remain exposed, but hair is covered, period. We booked as part of a tour, so when the bus parked, they brought out Abayas for all of the women. Men: Long sleeves and pants (no shorts!)Other rules: No food or drink (except water for small children) I highly recommend taking a guided tour. The structure is fantastically impressive, but without context to explain the *why* of it’s various features and how it came to be, the meaning would be lost.<\/p>\n – queriedit , October 2018 Tripadvisor<\/b><\/p>\n Read more Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque reviews on Tripadvisor<\/a> and know what past visitors have to saw about this breattaking mosque.<\/p>\n The mosque closes every Friday mornings to tourists (open only for worshippers) and re-opens in the afternoon.<\/p>\n<\/ul>\n Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is located 12 km from Abu Dhabi city proper<\/p>\n Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is located 128 km from Dubai city proper<\/p>\n Visitors are required to be dressed conservatively and modestly<\/p>\n Looking out for more things to do in Abu Dhabi? Here are a few of our detailed Abu Dubai guides that will help you plan your vacation better!<\/p>\n See more Abu Dhabi. Save more money.<\/p>\nNavigate the Guide<\/h2>\n
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Sheikh Zayed Mosque History<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nSheikh Zayed Mosque Architecture<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nThe Sheikh Zayed Mosque Tour Experience<\/h2>\n
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TICKETS AT <\/span> <\/span> <\/span> <\/span> <\/a><\/p>\nSheikh Zayed Mosque Tour with Fast Track Entrance<\/h2>\n
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Sheikh Zayed Mosque Tour Details<\/h3>\n
Tour Timings<\/h5>\n
Tour Dates<\/h5>\n
Meet Your Guide<\/h5>\n
Highlights of Your Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Visit<\/h2>\n
The Central Courtyard<\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nThe Chandeliers<\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nMain Prayer Hall<\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\n Studded Columns<\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nEight Two Domes<\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nThe Qibla Wall<\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nMother of all Carpets<\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nThe Reflective Pools<\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nBest Time To Visit Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\n TICKETS AT <\/span> <\/span> <\/span> <\/span> <\/a><\/p>\nSheikh Zayed Mosque Tour with Fast Track Entrance<\/h2>\n
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Sheikh Zayed Mosque At Night<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nInteresting Sheikh Zayed Mosque Facts<\/h2>\n
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Sheikh Zayed Mosque Reviews<\/h2>\n
Know Before You Visit Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Abu Dhabi<\/h2>\n
Sheikh Zayed Mosque Timings<\/h3>\n
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Sheikh Zayed Mosque Location<\/h3>\n
From Abu Dhabi<\/h6>\n
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By Dubai<\/h6>\n
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Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Abu Dhabi Location Map<\/h3>\n
Visitor Facilities at Sheikh Zayed Mosque Abu Dhabi<\/h3>\n
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Sheikh Zayed Mosque Dress Code<\/h3>\n
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Tips For Your Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Visit<\/h2>\n
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More Abu Dhabi Guides<\/h2>\n
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Yas Island Abu Dhabi<\/b> <\/a> ![\"Louvre](\"https:\/\/cdn-imgix-open.headout.com\/blog\/media\/images\/new\/Louvre+Abu+Dhabi.jpg?auto=compress&fm=pjpg&w=500&h=1000&q=30\")
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Abu Dhabi Day Trip Guide<\/b> <\/a> ![\"Emirates](\"https:\/\/cdn-imgix.headout.com\/tour\/3420\/TOUR-IMAGE\/804ccf52-b8ef-40e8-a3dd-77c6e1790651-2312-abu-dhabi-emirates-park-zoo---with-transfers-01.jpg?auto=compress&fm=pjpg&w=500&h=1000&q=30\")
Emirates Park Zoo & Resort<\/b> <\/a> <\/p>\n