The capital of the UAE is home to one of the largest and most beautiful mosques in the world - Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. It is a dazzling architectural creation that is open to people of all faiths.
At the mention of Abu Dhabi, many people remember this snow-white architectural masterpiece - the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. It consists of 82 white marble domes, the largest of which are crowned with a golden crescent, while the rest are crowned with sharp golden spiers. There are 4 large minarets in the corners of the building. Interior corridors, rooms and courtyard are decorated with marble flowers (irises, lilies and tulips), precious stones and 24-karat gold. There are swimming pools along the perimeter, the bottom of which is paved with blue and white tiles, placed in a checkerboard pattern. This pattern looks amazing under crystal clear water.
The capacity of the mosque is about 40 thousand people, and the prayer hall, into which only male Muslims are allowed, is designed for 7 thousand worshipers. Also located on the territory of the building are special rooms designed exclusively for women. In the northeastern minaret there is a library of Arab heritage, where you can find books on history, science and calligraphy not only in Arabic, but also in English, German, French and some other languages.
History of creation
Sheikh Zayed, in whose honor the majestic white mosque was built, is the heir to the Al Nahyan dynasty. The full name of the ruler is Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al-Nahyan. His ancestors ruled over the territory of Abu Dhabi for several generations, but he became the first holder of the title of President of the United Arab Emirates. His descendants de facto inherit the presidency, along with all the considerable fortune of the previous generations of the dynasty. The President wanted to create a majestic and beautiful place in the capital of his state, conveying the spirit of the Islamic heritage and the entire culture of the country.
Construction began in 1996 and lasted a little over 10 years, but planning and preparation for construction took much longer. For 20 years, the best architects and designers in the world have been planning a grand project, and construction companies have tried their best to get the job. The chief architect was Youssef Abdelki, a Syrian architect.
In 2004, the first president of the UAE died at the age of 85. The great mosque was not yet ready, but the sheikh was buried on the territory of the temple. In gratitude for the services to the country, a prayer has been continuously read over his grave, 24 hours a day for 15 years already. The construction of the mosque was completed in 2007, and the snow-white landmark, striking in its grandeur, was open to the public.
Interesting Facts
The United Arab Emirates is a land of world records and the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is no exception to the rule. The main dome of the mosque, which rises to almost 90 meters, is currently one of the largest temple domes in the world. A cotton-woolen carpet, laid out on the inner territory of the mosque, covers 5, 6 thousand square meters and weighs more than 45 tons. It is even listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest handmade carpet. It was created by Iranian craftsmen from the Khorasan province in Iran.
The mosque's ceilings are decorated with 7 delightful Faustig chandeliers, which are adorned with real Swarovski gemstones. The main chandelier weighs almost 12 tons and occupies one of the leading places among the largest chandeliers in the world, second only to the chandelier from Doha, the capital of the state of Qatar. According to rough estimates, the construction of a mosque with all precious metals and stones took about $ 560 million.
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is one of the most attractive destinations for tourists visiting the United Arab Emirates. More than 300 thousand people from all over the world come to see it every month. In terms of the number of visits per day, it can be second only to the tallest building in the world - Burj Khalifa, located in Dubai.
Visiting rules
This amazing place is open to everyone, regardless of religious beliefs. It is noteworthy that usually only Muslims are allowed on the territory of mosques, but the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi and the Jumeirah Grand Mosque in Dubai have become exceptions to the rule. This step was taken by the Ministry of Culture of the Emirates to develop tourism in the country, because it is currently the main source of income for the United Arab Emirates. In addition, the entrance to the territory of the mosque is absolutely free.
At the entrance, all visitors go through metal detectors and, if necessary, security checks. Women and men are tested in different parts of the room, then women are asked to go to a special room to change. If the clothes of a visitor of the fair sex do not meet the requirements (knees and legs, elbows are open, there is no scarf on her head), she will be given a special dress - an abaya that covers her ankles, arms, head. Then both men and women enter the territory adjacent to the Mosque.
In the courtyards on the territory of the building, you can walk in shoes, but to walk along the inner corridors and courtyards, you will need to take off your shoes. To do this, at all entrances to the mosque there are special numbered shelves, the shelves of which are also signed with numbers. You can put your shoes on the shelf, remember the number and pick them up after all the excursions. Those who are especially worried about their shoes are advised to take a bag or bag with them in order to put their belongings in them and carry them with them. In the north wing there are souvenir shops and cafes where you can have a snack and taste ice cream made from real camel milk.
The mosque provides services for people with disabilities. You can rent wheelchairs and small sightseeing cars to move around the temple. The paths in the outer courtyard and the corridors inside the mosque are wheelchair accessible. The Hospital Wing is open from 8:30 am to 10:30 pm, with medical staff working non-stop.
The mosque is open to the public from Saturday to Thursday from 9 am to 10 pm. Friday is a special day in Islamic culture, believers need a quiet time for prayer, so the mosque is closed until 4:30 pm. Please note the opening hours of the Grand Mosque during the month of Ramadan: from Saturday to Thursday, it is only open in the morning hours, from 9 to 14:00. On Fridays during Ramadan, the mosque is completely closed to visitors.
Free tours of the Great Mosque are held for tourists: one tour lasts about an hour and covers the entire history of the construction of the mosque and facts about Arab culture. The schedule of excursions changes from time to time, it can be viewed on the official site of the attraction. You can also book tickets there, as the number of group members is limited. In addition, special audio guides can be purchased in several languages, including Russian.
How to get there
The exact address of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed St, Abu Dhabi. If you go to the attraction by taxi, then there will be no problems with explanations, because all taxi drivers in Abu Dhabi know where the big white mosque is located. If you are driving a rented car, it is best to leave it at the southern entrance in a large free parking lot. In addition, special tourist buses and public transport go to the mosque. The nearest stop, however, is a 10-minute walk from the attraction.
