12 Facts about Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
This Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is considered to be a very holy place in Dubai. This mosque also attracts many tourists as it is very beautiful and is considered an iconic landmark in the city. The mosque’s architecture has a modern touch with a traditional Arabian influence in it. This huge mosque was designed by the famous architect from Egypt, Abdel Wahid Wakil.
If you are in Dubai, this is a must-visit spot a stunning mosque that is also perfect for capturing beautiful photographs. The interiors are very bright and colorful and the calligraphy is mesmerizing.
Background Of The Mosque
Sultan Al Nahyan first suggested the construction of this illustrious mosque. The work for the mosque started in the year 1996 and was completed 11 years after that. The mosque was then named Sheikh Zayed Mosque as a tribute to the Sultan. The design of the mosque sports a mix of Moroccan and Andalusian styles. The mosque also has mosaic tiles that are textured beautifully. In short, the mosque is nothing short of a masterpiece.
12 Amazing Facts About The Mosque
Here is a list of some amazing facts about the Sheikh Zayed Grand mosque that will leave you absolutely gob smacked.
- The mosque is so big that it can accommodate over 40,000 people at a single time. The primary prayer hall is very big and can hold 10,000 people at the same time. This mosque is the biggest in the whole of UAE.
- It took nearly 3,000 workers and 38 dedicated contractors to work on this mosque and it was finished in the year 2007.
- The design of the mosque is inspired by monuments built by the Persians and Mughal dynasties. This is one of the reasons why it is considered a work of art and second to none.
- The mosque also has a fabulous lighting system where 22 lamps create clouds-like illusions that are visible during the night. This enhances the beauty of the mosque by leaps and bounds.
- The Primary dome of the mosque is much higher than the other 81 domes and it has beautiful Moroccan art drawn on it.
- The Mosque has 7 chandeliers made of crystal designed by a German company called Faustig. The biggest chandelier weighs about 12 tons and it is constructed from gold and stainless steel.
- At this mosque, you will get to get the biggest carpet in the world that is purely hand-knotted. The carpet took approximately 8 months to make and then a year to add the knots and an additional 2 months to stitch the whole thing. It is said that 1200 workers worked on this wonderful carpet.
- This grand mosque is considered a masterpiece and measures 60 meters in height. The northern and southern gateway towers add to the elegance of the mosque. The towers are a seamless bleb of Fatimid, Ottoman, and Mamluk architecture.
- The materials used for the construction were brought in from various countries. The calligraphy and stained glass are imported from countries such as Morocco and New Zealand. It is also said that some of the materials were sourced from France, India, and Austria.
- This Mosque is considered one of the biggest in the globe and it covers a staggering area of 12.8 million square feet.
- When it comes to size the mosque ranks number three in all over the world after the Al-Masjid in Medina and the Great Mosque in Medina
- The mosque has an air-tight environment to make sure that the flowers inside remain fresh for longer.
Apart from this Sheikh Zayed Grand mosque, there are several other places to explore in Abu Dhabi. When going out with family then choose Abu Dhabi tour package that cover several places including this Grand mosque as well. However, if you are planning to travel to Dubai then do check Burj Khalifa from Abu Dhabi tour .
Some Additional Information
The mosque has more than 30 different types of marble in its construction and it also has precious stones and gold. All of these were sourced from Turkey, Pakistan, Italy, India, Greece, Germany, Egypt, China, and Austria.
| Address: | Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Street، – 5th St – Abu Dhabi – United Arab Emirates |
| Phone: | +971 2 419 1919 |
| Opened: | 07-12-2020 |
| complex size: | Over 22,400sqm. |
| Height: | 115 m |
| Capacity: | over 41000 |
| Construction cost: | 2 billion dirhams; (US$545 million) |
| Dome(s): | 82 domes of seven different sizes |
| Architect: | Yusef Abdelki |
| Architectural styles: | Islamic architecture, Mughal architecture, Ottoman architecture, Moorish architecture |
| Affiliation: | Islam |
| owned by: | Government of Dubai |
Normal visiting hours for Sheikh Zayed Mosque:-
- Saturday to Thursday:- 09:00 am to 10:00 pm (Last admission at 09:30 pm).
- Friday:- 09:00 am to 12:00 pm (Last admission at 11:30 am) and reopens from 3:00 pm. to 10:00 pm (Last admission at 09:30 pm).
Conclusion
Now, that you know the 12 amazing facts about this mosque, it is time you plan a visit and absorb some of the positive energy that this place has to offer. The experience is worth it and one that you are going to remember for the rest of your life. Both Muslims and non-Muslims can visit here. So, start planning soon.