The Grand Mosque of Abu Dhabi is perhaps the most beautiful, sumptuous, and diverse mosque I have ever set my foot in, so far. Incepted by the Late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and housing his resting place, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is easily spotted from afar due to the pure Macedonian and Greek white marble, cladding its walls and domes.
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque – Immense Measures and Jaw-dropping Exterior
Measuring 420 m (1,380 ft) by 290 m (960 ft), Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is a true chef d’œuvre of Islamic design, art, and architecture. Over a thousand pillars support the four 107 m minarets and eighty-two domes. The mosque’s pillars are veneered with floral designs with semi-precious stones – amethyst, jasper, red agate, mother-of-pearl, and lapis lazuli – to the contrast of ceramic geometric details, decorating the inside of the domes.
The jaw-dropping exterior of the mosque staggers the visitor with opulent chandeliers made of gold, brass, steel, and Swarovski crystals. The weight of the largest chandelier is mind-boggling 12 tonnes, including 40 kg (88 lbs) of pure 24-carat galvanised gold.
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque – An Interior That Flabbergasts Visitors and Stays into Their Mind Forever
Visitors are allowed to marvel at this masterpiece of contemporary architecture and Arabic magnificence between the six different prayers. Shoes and shorts (those covering the knees are okay) are forbidden, but that should not bother you since Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque’s main hall is laid with probably the most splendid (and the largest hand-knotted) carpet in the world.
The wool was transported from New Zealand and Iran, and the carpet’s medallion composition, measuring more than 5,500 square metres (over 60,000 square feet), was designed by the Iranian artist, Dr Ali Khaliqi, and woven by more than 1,200 artisans. More than 2 billion knots hold the 35-tonne carpet together! It needed two years to complete.
Kufic, Thuluth, and Naskh are the three Islamic calligraphy styles used throughout the mosque.
Sheikh Zayed – A Must-visit and Must-experience Mosque
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque necessitated more than 10 years to build thanks to the assiduous efforts of 30,000 workers since 1996. It was inaugurated in 2007.
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Have you seen such a resplendence? Where? 🙂
Hung Thai [Up Up and a Bear]
Holy cow man – this place is epic! Super nice, full of luxury and grand in every sense of the word. Those chandeliers…
Svet
I am struggling the find the appropriate words for this magnificence. I had to check Thesaurus a couple of times :)) The chandeliers I cannot describe with my words, sorry. Have to learn more!
Nina Alexander
Had I not been so afraid to visit Abu Dhabi (given the current political/religious situation worldwide) I would have packed my bags after seeing this! Beautiful!!!
Svet
Oh, I assure you the UAE are perfectly (if there is such a term – okay, close to perfect) place to travel. Well, women would have to wear something to cover their heads (and breasts), but … only in mosques!
Reginia Cordell
It is very safe in Abu Dhabi and the entire UAE. I’ve lived here four years and the most challenging thing is driving; all else is fine. You should definitely put in on your travel list. I would avoid the summer months though.
Svet
I completely agree with Reginia. My friend, who showed me around, has been living there for more than three years, and told me the same thing. I was there in February and it was already quite warm, so summer is not a viable option unless you want to melt :))
Pinay Flying High
12 tons of a chandelier with 24 karat gold and swarovski crystals, that deserves a grand applause!
I have to admit something though – I lived in Dubai for 7 years and never had the chance to see this mosque. Ugh!
Svet
That deserves an applause and admirations! Really? What did you visit every time you went to AD?
Pinay Flying High
Never went to AD. Only went there to go to embassies. I know, I’m a loser. Yaiks! ????????
Svet
Oh, wow, really! That’s a bit of a shame. Do you regret it? 🙂
Pinay Flying High
Every single day. :-/
Svet
Oh, well, you can go back, where are you residing now? 🙂
Pinay Flying High
Just next door, Doha. Lol.
Svet
Oh, great, I have only passed through Hamad Airport 4 times, but never got time to go out.
Safari Junkie
Love this mosque! I would expect crowds of people but looks like you had it for yourself? Do women also get a cover dress, I remember in Jordan i had to wear a black abaya in the mosque despite the fact I was properly dressed.
Svet
Yes, there were crowds of people, I just used my amateur photography skills to avoid them. Wasn’t so teeming, though. Yes, women have to cover almost everything – their heads, breasts, legs, anything revealing. 🙂
Megan Claire (@mappingmegan)
Amazingly beautiful! I’m kicking myself because I spent 7 days in Dubai recently though didn’t venture further out. I’m now hearing a tonne of talk about Abu Dhabi and would love to go!
Svet
Oh, Megan, you really should have visited Abu Dhabi. Though I was there for only a day, I loved some things much more than Dubai – for instance, the parks – it is packed with them. And this mosque, together with Emirates Palace and Ferrari World, are must-sees.
Amandas_Wanderlust
Just wow! The Grand Mosque looks totally stunning and it must have been both impressive and very moving to visit.
Svet
It is a staggering example of contemporary Islamic architecture. It was indeed striking and moving wandering around it! 🙂
Cass
Wow, absolutely stunning! I can’t get over the level of detail everywhere. I bet it’s even more impressive in person. Thanks for sharing!
Svet
It is amazingly beautiful and lavish! It is indeed super impressive, clean, and opulent! Thanks for sharing!
Naomi
Wow Svet what an amazingly detailed post and love the pics and architectural focus???? would still love to go here, have only been to Dubai so far and saw beautiful mosques there, but not as eloborate as this one!! Will def come back later for more of your blogs..Good night kisses from Holland!! Xxx Naomi – AuthenticChica????
Svet
Hey, Naomi! Thanks so much for reading my blog post! It was one of the best pieces of architectural experience in my life (probably only behind Barcelona). No, this one is truly a masterpiece! You can check Emirates Palace, too – so much resplendence in one place again. Good morning kisses from Bulgaria!
Svet
Travelure
What detailed work! Wow!
Svet
Thanks very much, Ajay! I appreciate your comment! How did I do with the photos? Ouch