Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, House of prayer in Al Ruwayyah, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is a house of prayer in Abu Dhabi featuring shining white marble, precious stones, and large domes topped with golden details. Inside, enormous crystal chandeliers hang from the ceiling, columns are inlaid with semi-precious stones and floral patterns, a massive hand-woven carpet covers the main prayer hall, and tall arched windows frame natural light throughout the space.
The mosque was conceived in the late 1980s as a symbol of peace, with construction beginning in 1996 and lasting about 11 years. It opened in 2007 and has since become a major pilgrimage site attracting millions of believers and visitors from around the world.
The mosque brings together different Islamic architectural styles to express modern faith and spirituality. Visitors notice the Arabic calligraphy carved into walls, the decorated prayer floor that guides worshippers, and how the space invites quiet reflection and respect.
Visitors should wear long, loose clothing that reaches the ankles, and women should bring a headscarf. Guided tours offered in Arabic and English are recommended, lasting about 30 minutes and providing detailed explanations of the architecture and design details you might otherwise miss.
Approximately 1,300 women artisans from different countries worked together to weave the massive hand-made carpet in the main prayer hall, one of the largest hand-crafted carpets in the world. This collaborative artwork demonstrates international cooperation in creating a place of unity.
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