Visiting Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque – A Must for any Trip to Abu Dhabi
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is a must-visit for anyone travelling to Abu Dhabi. It’s one of the biggest and most beautiful mosques in the world and here’s everything you need to know when paying the palace a visit.
Travelling to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
There are numerous taxi stands throughout the city that will get you there in no time if you don’t have a car with you. Once there, you’ll have to enter through a small structure that features a security checkpoint after which you’ll be given traditional clothes to wear. You’ll have the chance to take a guided tour upon arrival at the mosque which generally lasts for about 45 mins to an hour. The guided tours are free and available in both Arabic and English. There is also no entry fee for visiting.
You can also explore the Sheikh Zayed Mosque by yourself and it should take you close to 2 hours to see all the parts of the mosque. With all that exploring, it’s good to end things with a break and the Coffee Club is the perfect place to do so. It’s the only nearby place where you can get food and drinks to refuel after a long day.
The mosque remains open to visitors from 9 am to 10 pm except for Friday when it’s open only after 4.30 pm. This schedule is subject to change during the month of Ramadan so be sure to check things out before making your trip.
What not to bring
Personal beverages and food are not permitted inside the mosque and will most likely be confiscated by security. You may also be questioned if you are a professional videographer or have a lot of professional equipment with you that isn’t simply a simple DSLR.
The beauty of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
The structure has 82 white marble domes, 1,096 amethyst and jasper-encrusted columns, reflective ponds, an iconic prayer hall, gold-plated Swarovski chandeliers and a courtyard with one of the world’s largest marble mosaic artworks. Wherever you look, you’re bound to witness a stunning view.
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque holds the world record for the largest hand-woven carpet. The calligraphy enclosing the hollows of its domes, etched with Quran verses and decorated with gold leaf in An-Naskh writing, is not to be missed.
