Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

File:The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi taking selfie with H.E. Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan and H.E. Dr. Anwar Gargash at the Shiekh Zayed Grand Mosque, at Abu Dhabi, UAE on August 16, 2015.jpg taking selfie with Anwar Gargash and Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque]]

The Grand Mosque was constructed between 1994 and 2007 and was inaugurated in December 2007.{{cite web |title=Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque |url=https://www.abudhabi.ae/portal/faces/en/citizens/culture_and_recreation/cultural_and_historical_sites/gen_info20?docName=ADEGP_DF_104596_EN |publisher=Abu Dhabi Government |access-date=26 February 2014}} The building complex measures approximately {{convert|290|by|420|m|ft|abbr=on}}, covering an area of more than {{convert|12|ha|acre|abbr=off}}, excluding exterior landscaping and vehicle parking. The main axis of the building is rotated about 12° south of true west, aligning it in the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

The project was launched by the late president of the U.A.E., Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who wanted to establish a structure that would unite the cultural diversity of the Islamic world with the historical and modern values of architecture and art.{{cite web|url=http://www.wondermondo.com/Countries/As/UAE/AbuDhabi/AbuDhabiMosque.htm|title=Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Abu Dhabi|publisher=Wondermondo}} In 2004, Sheikh Zayed died and was buried in the courtyard of the mosque.

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center (SZGMC) offices are located in the west minarets. SZGMC manages the day-to-day operations and serves as a center of learning and discovery through its educational cultural activities and visitor programs. The library, located in the northeast minaret, serves the community with classic books and publications addressing a range of Islamic subjects: sciences, civilization, calligraphy, the arts, and coins, including some rare publications. The collection comprises material in a broad range of languages, including Arabic, English, French, Italian, Spanish, German, and Korean. For two years running, it was voted the world's second favourite landmark by TripAdvisor.{{cite web|author1=The National staff|title=Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque ranked the world’s second favourite landmark {{!}} The National|url=http://www.thenational.ae/uae/tourism/sheikh-zayed-grand-mosque-ranked-worlds-second-favourite-landmark|access-date=28 May 2017|language=en|date=27 May 2017}}

The Grand Mosque has been a significant destination for visiting foreign leaders during official state visits to the UAE. Notable visitors include, Elizabeth II,{{Cite |title=The Queen's visit to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/the-queens-visit-to-the-sheikh-zayed-grand-mosque |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=gov.uk}} the then US Vice President Joe Biden{{Cite |title=AP |url=https://newsroom.ap.org/editorial-photos-videos/detail?itemid=4c5da6b87828f04e2f20d1c55b56bf70&mediatype=video&source=youtube |access-date=2024-10-04 |website=newsroom.ap.org}} and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.{{Cite web |title=PM Modi Visits Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/pm-modi-visits-sheikh-zayed-grand-mosque-in-abu-dhabi-1207913 |access-date=2024-10-04 |website=NDTV.com}}

The mosque was built under the guidance and supervision of Sheikh Zayed, who was buried here after his death in 2004. It features 82 domes, more than 1,000 columns, 24-carat-gold gilded chandeliers and the world's largest hand-knotted carpet. The main prayer hall is dominated by one of the largest chandeliers. The mosque was designed under the management of the Syrian architect Youssef Abdelke, and three other architectural designers from Syria who completed the design and worked on developing it, Basem Barghouti, Moataz Al-Halabi, and Imad Malas.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-02 |title=9 Most Famous Buildings in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah That Put the UAE on the World Map |url=https://www.admiddleeast.com/story/most-famous-buildings-in-dubai-abu-dhabi-and-sharjah-uae |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=AD Middle East |language=en-AE}}

The mosque's architect Yusef Abdelki took inspiration from a number of sources: the Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi Mosque in Alexandria, designed by Mario Rossi in the 1920s;{{cite web|website=MSN News |title=7 Facts You Must Know About Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque |date={{date|2021/03/12}} |url=https://www.msn.com/en-ae/news/other/7-facts-you-must-know-about-sheikh-zayed-grand-mosque/ar-BB1ewcbC}} the Badshahi Mosque in Lahore, Pakistan;{{cite web|website=Travel Awaits |title=8 Of The Most Beautiful Places In Abu Dhabi |author=Vanessa Chiasson |date={{date|2019/11/15}} |url=https://www.travelawaits.com/2484629/beautiful-places-in-abu-dhabi/}} and other references of Persian, Mughal, and Indo-Islamic architecture. The dome layout and floorplan of the mosque was inspired by the Badshahi Mosque. Its archways are quintessentially Moorish, and its minarets classically Arab.

In a joint-venture between Italian contractors Impregilo and Rizzani de Eccher, more than 3,000 workers and 38 sub-contracting companies were conscripted in its construction. The mosque was completed under a second contract by a Joint Venture between ACC and Six Construct (part of Belgian company BESIX Group) between 2004 and 2007.{{cite web |url=http://www.accsal.com/projects/sheikh-zayed-grand-mosque/ |website=Accsal |title=Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque |access-date=13 March 2019}}{{cite web |url=http://www.besix.com/en/projects/sheikh-zayed-grand-mosque |website=Besix |title=Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Marbled architectural splendor |access-date=13 March 2019}}{{Cite web |title=Infrastructure boost |url=http://www.gulfconstructiononline.com/news/5902_Infrastructure-boost.html |publisher=Gulf Construction Online |date=2004-08-01 |ref = none}} Natural materials were chosen for much of its design and construction due to their long-lasting qualities, including marble stone, gold, semi-precious stones, crystals and ceramics. Artisans and materials came from many countries including Syria, especially from Damascus and Aleppo, and some other countries such as India, Italy, Germany, Turkey, Pakistan, Malaysia, Iran, China, United Kingdom, New Zealand, North Macedonia and the U.A.E.{{citation needed||date=January 2019}} The intricate flower mosaics decorating the courtyard was designed by the British artist Kevin Dean, who embraced Sheikh Zayed’s passionate vision to create a mosque that unites the world, as he chose flowers from the Middle East, such as Tulips, Lilys, and Irises. As inlays of colored marble form exuberant floral patterns that curl and twist gracefully from the edges towards the center adorn the courtyard. While the rest of the Sahan was inlaid with thousands of small pieces of white marble.

The mosque is large enough to accommodate over 40,100 worshippers, while the main prayer hall can hold over 7,000. There are two smaller prayer halls, with a capacity of 1,500 each, one of which is the women's prayer hall.

There are four minarets on the four corners of the courtyard which rise about {{convert|107|m|abbr=on}} in height. The courtyard, with its floral design, measures about {{Convert|17,000|m2|abbr=on}}, and is considered to be the largest example of marble mosaic in the world. The exterior and interior are adorned with white marble, giving the mosque a serene and majestic appearance. The marble is inlaid with precious stones like lapis lazuli, carnelian, amethyst, abalone shell, and mother of pearl.

Marble used in the construction included:

• Sivec from Prilep, North Macedonia was used on the external cladding ({{Convert|115,119|m2|abbr=on}} of cladding has been used on the mosque, including the minarets)
• Lasa from Laas, South Tyrol, Italy was used in the internal elevations
• Makrana from Makrana, India was used in the annexes and offices
• Acquabianca and Bianco P from Italy
• East White and Ming Green from China

To compare, the King Faisal Mosque of Sharjah, formerly the largest mosque in Sharjah{{cite news |newspaper=Khaleej Times |title=A look at the magnificent mosques of the UAE |url=https://www.khaleejtimes.com/nation/general/a-look-at-the-magnificent-mosques-of-the-uae |date=2015-07-01 |access-date=2019-08-15}} and country, measures {{cvt|10,000|-|12,000|m2}}.{{cite news |last=Al Qassemi |first=Sultan Sooud |author-link=Sultan Sooud Al-Qassemi |title=Demystifying Sharjah’s iconic King Faisal Mosque |newspaper=Gulf News |url=https://gulfnews.com/entertainment/arts-culture/demystifying-sharjahs-iconic-king-faisal-mosque-1.2125591 |date=2017-11-16 |access-date=2019-08-15}}{{cite news |last=Kakande |first=Yasin |title=Sharjah's mosque where the faithful can listen and learn |newspaper=The National |location=Sharjah |url=https://www.thenational.ae/uae/sharjah-s-mosque-where-the-faithful-can-listen-and-learn-1.430316 |date=2011-08-11 |access-date=2019-08-15}}

The carpet in the hall is considered by many {{By whom|date=September 2022}} to be the world's largest carpet made by Iran's Carpet Company and designed by Iranian artist Ali Khaliqi.{{cite news |url=http://news.webindia123.com/news/Articles/World/20070728/726654.html |title=Iran weaves world's largest carpet |newspaper=Web India 123 |date=2007-07-28}} It measures {{convert|5,627|m2|abbr=on}}, and was made by around 1,200-1,300 carpet knotters. The weight of this carpet is 35 ton and is predominantly made from wool (originating from New Zealand and Iran). There are 2,268,000,000 knots within the carpet and it took approximately two years to complete.

The Grand Mosque has seven imported chandeliers from the company Faustig in Munich, Germany that incorporate millions of Swarovski crystals. The largest chandelier is the second largest known chandelier inside a mosque, the third largest in the world,{{clarification needed|date=January 2019}} and has a {{Convert|10|m|abbr=on}} diameter and a {{convert|15|m|abbr=on}} height.

The pools along the arcades reflect the mosque's columns, which become illuminated at night. The unique lighting system was designed by lighting architects Speirs and Major Associates to reflect the phases of the moon. Beautiful bluish gray clouds are projected in lights onto the external walls and get brighter and darker according to the phase of the moon.{{citation needed|date=January 2019}}

The 96 columns in the main prayer hall are clad with marble and inlaid with mother of pearl, one of the few places where one can see this craftsmanship.{{citation needed|date=January 2019}}

The 99 names (qualities or attributes) of God (Allah) are featured on the Qibla wall in traditional Kufic calligraphy, designed by the prominent UAE calligrapher — Mohammed Mandi Al Tamimi. The Qibla wall also features subtle fibre-optic lighting, which is integrated as part of the organic design.

In total, three calligraphy styles — Naskhi, Thuluth and Kufic — are used throughout the mosque and were drafted by Mohammed Mandi Al Tamimi of the UAE, Farouk Haddad of Syria and Mohammed Allam of Jordan.

File:Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi.jpg|View from Wahat Al Karama

File:Front of Sheikh Zayed Mosque.jpg|Exterior

File:Water_mirror_and_columns_in_Sheikh_Zayed_Mosque.jpg|Water mirror and columns

File:Inner court yard of Shekh Zayed Mosque.jpg|Inner courtyard with minaret

File:Interior of Main Hall in Sheik Zayed Mosque.jpg|Interior of the main prayer hall

File:Sheikh Zayed Mosque 2022.jpg|The mosque in 2022

File:Sheikh-Zayed-Grand-Mosque-at-Night.jpg|The mosque at night

File:Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Picture.jpg|Outside of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque (left)

File:Walkways of Holy Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.jpg|Mosque walkway

• List of mosques in the United Arab Emirates
• List of cultural property of national significance in the United Arab Emirates
• Qasr Al Watan
• The Founder's Memorial
• Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque
• Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Fujairah
• Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan's Mosque in Stockholm, Sweden
• Emir Abdelkader Mosque

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category|Sheikh Zayed Mosque}}

• [http://www.szgmc.gov.ae/en/Home The Official Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center website]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110101000538/http://www.abudhabitourism.ae/en/en-us/szm.aspx The Official Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority website]
• {{cite book |last=Shah |first=Pino |title=Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque: Heaven's Waiting Room |publisher=ArtByPino.com |editor-last=Rood |editor-first=Carrie (compiler) |isbn=0-9979-9844-X |location=Pharr, Texas, the U.S.A. |volume=1 (of World Heritage Series) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wbfEDwAAQBAJ&vq |date=2020-03-14 |access-date=2020-07-09}}

{{Mosques in the United Arab Emirates}}

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Category:2007 establishments in the United Arab Emirates

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Category:Mosques in Abu Dhabi

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Category:Mosque buildings with minarets in the United Arab Emirates