Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is a must-see attraction in Abu Dhabi. Constructed over 11 years, from 1996, the mosque is the 8th largest in the world and the largest in the UAE. As such, the mosque attracts large numbers of worshippers, especially at Eid when over 40,000 may attend the call to prayer. However, non-Muslims are welcome to visit the mosque outside of prayer times - check out the website for current opening times as these are restricted during Ramadan and the mosque is closed to tourists on Friday until 5 pm. Guided tours are strongly recommended and occur at multiple times throughout the day - there is no need to book unless you are travelling in a group. Note that there is an enforced dress code - for women, this means your head and wrist to ankle should be covered with loose-fitting clothing, you may be asked to put on an Abaya if your clothes are judged too immmodest; for men, trousers and a minimum of short-sleeved T-shirt should be worn. For anyone not dressed appropriately, alternative clothing is provided at no charge.
|
There are a number of interesting and note-worthy elements to the mosque and the building is stunningly beautiful (and a cool respite from the heat of Abu Dhabi). The mosaic courtyard measures over 17,000 square metres and is the largest marble mosaic in the world - if you visit in summer be careful to tread on the pale tiles as the dark coloured parts are often scorchingly hot. In the awe-inspiring main (men's) prayer hall, the intricate carpet from Iran is the world's largest carpet and took 1200 workers 2 years to create. The mosque is also home to the third largest chandelier in the world - made of Swarovski crystals, the chandelier is 10 m wide and 15 m high. The unique lighting reflects the phases of the moon, a concept so important to Islam. The colour scheme reflects the maturation process of the all-important date, from green to yellow to red.
Our visit to the mosque was the architectural highlight of the Abu Dhabi and Maldives Do in 2013. Although we had anticipated the beauty of the building, we were pleasantly surprised by how friendly and amusing the guide was. Both here in the mosque and at the fantastic Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital, our guides were Emiratis and displayed a real sense of warmth, humour and cultural sensitivity. When visiting the Emirates, unlike Oman, there are few opportunities for interactions with the local people. Hopefully the increase in tourism will support more cultural exchange in future. |