The impressive and inspiring Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

The impressive and inspiring Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is one of the world’s largest mosques and the only one that captures the unique interactions between Islam and other world cultures. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Founder of the UAE, had a very specific vision for this mosque: to incorporate architectural styles from different Muslim civilisations and celebrate cultural diversity by creating a haven that is truly welcoming and inspirational in its foundation. The mosque’s architects were British, Italian and Emirati, with design ideas borrowed from parts of Turkey, Morocco, Pakistan and Egypt, among other Islamic countries. The end result is a breathtaking, gleaming architectural marvel. The welcoming mosque’s open-door policy encourages visitors from around the world, from families to groups, solo travellers to celebrants, to not only witness its beauty but also gain a deeper understanding of the emirate’s cultural beliefs in a space that encourages open dialogue. The largest mosque in Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque can welcome up to 55,000 worshippers and visitors every day. Completed in just over a decade, the mosque was built to embody Islam’s foremost message of peace and tolerance and welcome people of all beliefs. Its 1,096 amethyst-and-jasper-embedded columns, 82 white marble domes, reflective pools, gold-plated Swarovski chandeliers, iconic prayer hall, and courtyard featuring one of the largest marble mosaic artworks in the world, make it a stunning place to explore and take photographs. The mosque holds a Guinness World Record for the largest hand-woven carpet and also boasts one of the largest chandeliers in a mosque. Don’t miss the calligraphy encircling the hollows of its domes, etched with verses from the Quran and painted with gold leaf in An-Naskh lettering.