Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi - Timings, History, Darshan, Pooja Timings

At a distance of 19 km from Abu Dhabi Airport, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is a sacred mosque located in Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the United Arab Emirates. This is the largest mosque in the United Arab Emirates and among the prime places to visit in Abu Dhabi.

Reckoned to be one of the largest mosques in the world, Grand Mosque serves as an impressive landmark to the beautiful city of Abu Dhabi and the key place of worship for daily, Friday and Eid prayers. The mosque was built by the first president of UAE, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan to convey historic consequence and to embody the Islamic message of peace, tolerance, and diversity. The construction of the mosque began in 1996 and was completed in 2007.

Designed by Syrian architect Yousef Abdelky, the architecture of this marvelous masterpiece is influenced by Alexandrian, Mughal, and Persian mosque of Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi in Egypt and Badshahi Mosque in Lahore, Pakistan. Its archways are quintessentially Moorish, and its minarets classically Arab. Clad in Macedonian marble, the mosque features 82 domes, the largest of which is located in the center of the main prayer hall. Artisans used glass-work, mosaic tiling, and intricate carvings to spectacular effect on both the interior and exterior.

The mosque has four minarets, each approximately 106 meters tall. Each minaret is comprised of three different geometric shapes. The first is a square that forms the minaret's base. Its architectural style reflects that of Moroccan, Andalusian and Mameluke styles. The second section of the minaret has an octagonal shape, which is a design that goes back to the Mameluke era (13th to 16th centuries). The third section is cylindrical in shape, a design element from the Ottoman era (14th to 20th centuries). The crowning lantern covered with gold-glass mosaic goes back to the Fatimid era (10th to 12th centuries).

There are 96 columns in the main prayer hall, inlaid with mother of pearl and marble. It houses the world's largest hand-knotted carpet made by third-generation carpet maker and artist Dr. Ali Khaliqi. The predominantly wool, single-piece carpet is 5,700 square meters and was hand-crafted by approximately 1,200 artisans. There are seven chandeliers in the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque that are imported from Germany and all containing Swarovski crystals. The largest chandelier in the main prayer hall of the mosque is the third largest chandelier in the world.

Able to hold 40,000 worshippers, this enticing landmark is a great exemplar of 'Unity in Diversity' as it allows non-Muslims to explore all areas of it. Free guided tours are available at various times during the day. The one hour guided tours are offered in English and Arabic and children are welcome. Photography of mausoleum is strictly prohibited but all other parts of the mosque can be photographed.

Being a Muslim pilgrimage site, visitors need to dress modestly. Men are not allowed to wear shorts. Women need to wear a long-sleeved shirt and long pants or a long, loose-fitting skirt. Holding hands and kissing is disrespectful and not allowed inside of the mosque. Also, men and women are not permitted to take a photo together.

Timings: 9 AM - 10 PM from Saturday - Thursday, 4.30 PM - 10 PM on Friday

Guided Tour Timings: 10 AM, 11 AM and 5 PM, Additional Tours: 2 PM, 7 PM on Saturday & 5 PM, 7 PM on Friday

Entry: Free