Insider’s Guide To Visiting Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque In Abu Dhabi

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Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi is one of the opulent structure and an incredible architecture one shouldn’t miss visiting.

If you are visiting Abu Dhabi, you should definitely add Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in your itinerary, and we are sure our guide will help you a lot in planning your trip here! 

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Abu Dhabi, being the capital emirate of UAE, is slightly overshadowed and looks less touristy than its counterpart Dubai.

However this largest emirate city has many stunning superlative attractions in its sleeve. Be it architectural wonder of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, or tranquil mangrove forests, or its city vibe, Abu Dhabi is second to none!

As an architecture lover, visiting Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque was one of the best experience. Therefore, we felt there’s a need to write a complete guide to help other travellers.

In this post, we have created a complete guide on what to expect from Grand Mosque, how to reach here, dress code and practical information, which we hope will be useful when you are visiting Abu Dhabi. 

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Also Read: Kayaking the Eastern Mangrove Forest in Abu Dhabi

How to reach Grand Mosque Abu Dhabi

We drove from Dubai to Abu Dhabi and it took us little less than 1.5 hours on road. If you are relying on public transport, there are regular buses that run from Al Ghubaiba bus station in the Bur Dubai area to Abu Dhabi. 

They are non-stop bus journeys and takes about 2 hours.  From Abu Dhabi bus station, you can either take taxi, or take bus line 032 which takes 45 minutes to reach the mosque. 

Why visit Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque?

Exotic Architecture

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is one of the contemporary architectural wonders of the modern times.  This modern mosque is often compared to Taj Mahal. Although, personally, I would never make comparison between these two, having seen both of them. They are both different and unique in their own ways. But truth be told, this mosque lives up to any such comparisons.

The mosque is well built and is one of the striking architecture I’ve seen in the recent times. One glimpse at the mosque gives the feeling as if the mosque is immersed in snow. So pure, so white, that it camouflaged with the environment. The imposing dome and minarets dominates the skyline.

Intricate and Rich Interiors

Marvellous Domes

The art work on the domes deserve a word of appreciation too. Very detailed and intricate Moroccan artwork with floral and arabesque patterns. There are about 82 domes in different sizes. The largest one is located in the centre of the main prayer hall. 

Crystal Chandeliers

One thing that stands out and leaves you speechless is the chandeliers in the mosque.  There are 7 crystal chandeliers around the halls and foyers. And the largest of them is in the main prayer hall. It is said to be world’s largest chandelier in a mosque weighing about 12 tonnes. Glass panels studded with Swarowski cyrstals were installed in all these chandeliers.

These are the 3 chandeliers and the view of the main prayer hall which can accommodate 40000 people. The main prayer hall also houses world’s largest hand-knotted carpet. Predominantly a woolen carpet, there are Islamic medallion design and they were hand crafted by roughly 1200 artisans and took two years to design, knot and transport.

The lighting system used for the domes represent Lunar illumination reflecting the phases of moon. Blueish Gray colour is projected onto the facades and domes.  Each day the colour changes depending on the phase of the moon. As the moon progresses from crescent to full moon, the lightening becomes darker.

Best time to visit the Grand Mosque

The fascination to seeing buildings and monuments at night never fades.  We visited the mosque just in time before sunset. And we were just plain lucky to experience the mosque both at day light and night. 

When the magical hour struck, the mosque turned into a kaleidoscope of colors and glittered through the night. Although we only got a glimpse of the mosque during the day light for a very short time, but no complaints.

The twilight skies gave a classy touch to the already opulent mosque.  The arches were shimmering and reflecting in the outside pool. This provided a fantastic photo opportunity to me. The tall white marble pillars were embellished with a gold at the top to resemble a palm tree. Entry to the mosque is via these imposing columns and the marble work were nothing but exotic.

The opulent mosque, the arches, the intricate work on the marbles, grand chandelier and carpet left us totally speechless.  Certainly making it one of the beautiful masterpiece architectures of UAE and an icon of Abu Dhabi. The Grand Mosque is a symbol of grandeur, sheer elegance and tranquility. If you are touring Abu Dhabi, there’s no doubt you need to add Grand Mosque to your itinerary.

Dress Code & Manners

• Conservative clothing for women covering legs, hands, shoulders, neck and head. Trousers for men.
• All women must wear Abaya (traditional robe) and Shayla (headscarf) which are provided at the mosque itself.
• Avoid tight and transparent clothing.
• Shorts are not allowed. 
• Shoes must be removed before entering the mosque prayer hall. 
• Intimate behaviour / public display of affection is prohibited.
• Do not touch any displays like Holy Quran or any other architectural elements in the prayer hall. 
• Food/drinks not allowed, and goes without saying – its a no smoking zone. 

Practical Information

1. The Abaya service can get extremely crowded when hiring and returning the robe.  Wearing an appropriate clothing (likes of yoga pants/loose pants/full skirt covering legs) with a full hand top, and a thick scarf to cover head/neck, you can skip the Abaya service, and enter the mosque directly.

2. Wear sandals/ flip flop instead of shoes.  It’s easy to get into the mosque this way and avoid the hasle of shoes.

3. During Ramadan, Fridays and other islamic festivals, the visiting hours may be restricted or it may vary. Therefore, always check the website for any such information.  

4. Visit the mosque just before the sunset, so you get to see both during the day light and nightlights. 

Hotels in Abu Dhabi

The Abu Dhabi EDITION is a waterfront property with 198 stylish bedrooms. It is also pocket friendly. Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi at Al Maryah Island is a glitzy hotel offering lovely views of old Abu Dhabi. The St. Regis Abu Dhabi is home to world’s highest suspended hotel suite with city’s best beach clubs and pristine beach around.

Have you been to Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi? Share your experience here. 

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