✌️The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque was one of my last stops in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. If you want to learn more about this impressive place - I invite you to read!
When entering Abu Dhabi, you can not miss this building - the mosque is one of the largest in the world. You can see him from a distance of many kilometers.
Its construction lasted almost 12 years, covers an area of 22 412 square meters. The initiator of the construction of the temple was Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahayan, called the Father of the Emirates - the first president of the country, holding this position for 33 years. Unfortunately, he did not see the temple opening - he died in 2004, three years before the planned opening.
The best time to visit the mosque is early afternoon, before it is dark. Then you have the opportunity to admire him in the light of the burning sun, as well as after dark. In both cases it's worth it!
Before you get inside (admission is free) you have to be properly dressed. Gentlemen, they should have long pants and covered arms. If you have tattoos on your hands - you will need to wear a long-sleeved sweatshirt.
For women, the outfit is a bit more stringent. It is forbidden to wear short skirts, short sleeves or tight blouses. It is also necessary to cover the hair.
If someone comes to your place unprepared, he can rent an appropriate outfit on the spot for free.
After crossing the gates, the mosque brings down its impetus. Huge minerals and domes in a snow-white color as a symbol of piety make an amazing impression. Suffice it to say that 40,000 believers can pray at the same time at the mosque!
The courtyard of the mosque with an area of 17,000 square meters, which adorns the world's largest marble mosaic, makes a stunning impression.
Many different materials were used to build the temple: marble, gold, semi-precious stones, ceramics and crystal glass.
The building is decorated with 82 domes, including the largest dome of the world (with an internal diameter of 70 m and an external one of 85 m) located above the main prayer room. The finials of the domes and minarets and the capitals of all columns were made of 24-carat gold. Plan Sheikh Zayed Mosque and the layout of the domes refer to the architecture of the Great Mughals.
The surroundings of the courtyard and the interior are admired barefoot.
The courtyard is surrounded by over 1000 columns, in the corners there are four minarets with a height of 107 m.
Every now and then prayers are heard in the courtyard. Listening you can have shivers on your back:
Around the mosque are located pools, in which the arcades reflect, and the building impresses with thoughtful symmetry.
The interior of the mosque is impressive not less than its external part. The harmony of ornaments and colors gives the impression of masterpieces of art.
The temple is illuminated by 7 gigantic chandeliers made of millions of Svarovski crystals, and the largest of them, 15 m high, 10 m in diameter and weighing 12 tons, is in the main prayer room and is the third largest chandelier in the world.
In the main prayer room there is the world's largest hand-woven carpet with an area of 5,627 square meters and a weight of 35 tons! Weavers to make 2 billion (!) Strands needed 2 years to make it.
Main Hall:
After dark, the mosque gives the impression of an architectural miracle. Each single lamp is where it should be. There is not the slightest case here.
As long as you are in the Emirates, the Great Sheikh Zayed Mosque is a must-visit!
