The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is the largest place of worship in the UAE; a centre for learning about Islam and culture in Abu Dhabi; and one of the country’s most important tourist attractions.
It is an active mosque which hosts sermons several times a day, but it is also possible for non-Muslims to visit. Here’s everything you need to know about the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, and how to plan your visit.
Prayers at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
Muslims pray five times a day with the prayers known as fajr, dhuhr, asr, maghrib and isha.
Timings change each day depending on the time of year, but are available in local press and online each day.
It’s very common to see thousands of men and women attend sermons on a Friday at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
Friday sermons are the same in all of Abu Dhabi’s mosques so that a unified message, often related to social and religious practices, is spread to the community.
Visiting the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
Non-Muslim residents and tourists are able to visit the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and it is one of the most fascinating places to see in Abu Dhabi.
Before visiting it should be noted that there are well-defined rules and manners to be observed when visiting the mosque.
These rules include wearing respectful and modest clothing, such as no shorts or skirts, no sleeveless shirts, beachwear, transparent clothing and no profanity on garments.
Smoking and consumption of food and drink is also prohibited.
Visiting hours are 9am to 10pm from Saturday to Thursday; Fridays 9am to noon then 3pm to 10pm.
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is free to visit and there are guided tours if you want to experience more. The tours last around 45 minutes and questions are invited about the architecture, Islamic culture and customs.
What to see at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi is an incredible sight to behold night or day. At its highest point, it reaches more than 100m tall and is one of the largest mosques in the world.
As well as the religious significance, it is a stunning piece of Islamic architecture made up of 82 marble domes and more than 1,000 hand-carved columns around the arcade.
These are beautifully-designed and inlaid with precious and semi-precious stones such as amethyst and lapis lazuli. Each is designed by craftsmen using an Italian technique similar to that used in parts of the Taj Mahal.
Inside the main prayer hall is the world’s largest hand-knotted carpet. Measuring around 5,700sq m, the beautiful carpet took 1,200 artists almost two years to create.
Other attractions of note include the mosque’s stunning chandeliers. There are seven custom-made chandeliers decorated with Swarovski crystals with the heaviest weighing an incredible 12 tonnes.
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is also surrounded by rectangular pools that reflect the magnificent columns on the outside of the mosque.
The four minarets are each more than 105m tall and fuse three different architectural styles.
At the base, they take on an angular Moroccan style before giving way to an octagonal shape familiar of the Mameluke era. Finally, there is a cylindrical shape that typifies the Ottoman era.
There is also a private library in the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, specialising in resources on Islamic civilisation and the history of the Muslim world.
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is an all day location that needs to be seen at different times.
In fact, a special lighting system is designed to follow a lunar cycle so different shades from one day to the next means it constantly changes.
Shadows become light and as the moon passes through a cycle, the 22 lighting towers project a different tone and atmosphere across the building.
Photography is permitted at the mosque in certain areas so you can snap pictures that will provide memories of a lifetime.
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Street, szgmc.gov.ae (02 419 1919).
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