After Burj Khalifa, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque was our next top tourist destination in Abu Dhabi. Did you know the Grand Mosque is the largest mosque in the country of UAE? The best part is it also allows non-muslim visitors to experience the serenity and admire its architectural grandeur. In this travel guide post, I’ve shared all the important things you need to know before visiting the Sheikh Zayed Mosque. Keep scrolling down!
Things to know before visiting Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque – the largest Mosque,UAE in 2023
As it’s close to our hotel Park Rotana, Abu Dhabi, we didn’t want to miss the world’s most beautiful mosque 
. It was summertime (August) in Abu Dhabi, and we entered the mosque on the scorching, sunny afternoon! I know it’s the worst decision ever, but we had only half-day to explore the capital city of Abu Dhabi. So after visiting the Etihad Towers in the morning, we entered the Grand Mosque around noon.
How To Get To The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi (Travel Guide):
If you are traveling from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, you can opt for bus or car services. We booked a cab from the Etihad Towers, Abu Dhabi, and reached the Grand mosque within 20 minutes. If you are staying in or around Park Rotana Complex, Abu Dhabi, you can visit this mosque easily anytime.
Location: The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is situated between the three main bridges connecting Abu Dhabi City to the main land (Maqta, Mussafah and Sheikh Zayed bridges). Source: Official site
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Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Opening Times, 2023:
Tourists can visit the Grand Mosque every day from 9 am to 10 pm except for Friday mornings. The admission is free, and there are several free guided tours as well that you can avail yourself if you want!
Visiting Times:
Saturday to Thursday (09:00 am to 10:00 pm)
Friday (9am-12pm & 3:00 pm. to 10:00 pm)
Dress Code for visiting the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in 2023, Abu Dhabi:
Before entering the main complex, visitors need to wear the proper modest outfit. That day, I was wearing a sleeveless peplum top with jeans. They strictly told me to wear an Abaya (free, provided by the mosque management) on the top of my outfit so that my hair and body remain fully covered. There were blue and blush-pink colored Abayas available, so I chose blue. Ladies, your head needs to be covered all the time! They don’t interrupt often, but if they notice, they’ll point you out to cover your head. I have seen Indian ladies (aged 40-60) who wore sarees and salwar suits with headscarves. They didn’t have to wear an abaya as their outfit was loose, covered from head to toe, and perfect.
My husband was allowed to visit in his outfit as he was wearing a full-sleeve shirt with jeans. Visitors must ensure that their arms and legs are fully covered. Men are allowed to visit the mosque without covering their heads! So it’s better to go fully prepared and check the official website for the latest updated rules before visiting the mosque.
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Things To Know & See At The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi in 2023:
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, true to its name, looks grand and majestic . Resplendent in white, this imposing Grand Mosque is a feast to the eyes and the pride of the UAE capital city, Abu Dhabi. This religious site (spanning 30 acres of land) is open to all regardless of caste & religion, race & nationality, and can hold thousands of devotees at a time.
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the white beauty, is the best example of Islamic architecture mixed with traditional and modern art that attracts thousands of visitors from all walks of life. To explore this large complex, you need at least 2 hours of time on your hand. Also, if you are going at noon like us, kindly bring sunglasses as it becomes pretty difficult to look at the structure and take photos under the scorching sunrays 
.
Drawing inspiration from Pakistan’s Badshahi mosque and architectural designs from other Islamic countries, the Grand mosque was designed by a Syrian architect. It features 82 domes of various sizes; the largest one is placed at the center of the main prayer hall, surrounded by four giant minarets and a number of reflective pools. The minarets serve as the mosque’s offices, centers for cultural activities, and a library.
Each white marble dome and minaret is adorned with gold mosaic print. The central dome is one of the largest mosque-domes in the world! The inner side of the domes is engraved with verses from the Quran and so beautifully designed! Overall, the color combination of white, off-white, and gold with the floral pattern designs of the mosque architecture is a visual treat to the eyes .
I tried to capture the mosque from different angles, but honestly, my photos do not do any justice to this majestic mosque 
.
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The central courtyard is even more beautiful because the floor is designed with pure white marble tiles with elaborate floral mosaic patterns. The sunny weather didn’t allow me to take good photos of mine with the structure as backdrop, unlucky fellow!
While walking through the mosque, you can see numerous columns carved and decorated with floral and leafy patterns. Although the weather was hot and humid, it was all airy and windy inside the mosque!
The prayer halls are all air-conditioned. After walking around the premises and admiring the exterior of the Grand Mosque, we entered the main prayer hall. There are two side halls, out of which one is exclusively reserved for the women worshippers. The main hall can accommodate around 10,000 people at a time!
The main hall is supported by 96 high columns, inlaid with mother of pearl, Macedonian marble, and other precious stones. It is said that the Sheikh Zayed Mosque is made of natural materials like marble, gold, precious stones, and crystals!
The main prayer hall of the Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi, features the world’s largest hand-woven carpet made of New Zealand wool. The glass panels are also crafted with Swarovski crystals & stunning floral designs that will surely blow your mind away!
There are seven chandeliers inside the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, but the largest of them is (also the third-largest chandelier in the world) located in the main prayer hall. The chandeliers are all studded with dazzling Swarovski crystals; make sure to check out all of them while in the grand mosque. You can learn more about its architecture on its official site.
After spending about half an hour appreciating the main prayer hall interior, we moved to the next room to view the exhibits. The mosque offers free guided walk-in tours as well!
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As I said earlier, it takes around 2-3 hours to see every detail of this mosque. Since we had to fly back to our home country that very evening, we didn’t stay there for long. If you have enough time, I highly suggest visiting the mosque by 4 pm and staying there till evening. The grand mosque dazzles at night, and the lighting is worth checking out
!
If you are wondering the best time/season/month to visit the Sheik Zayed Grand Mosque, my suggestion would be November to April, as the summer or rainy season will definitely spoil your trip!
I can’t recommend the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque tour enough to all. After visiting this Grand Mosque, now I know why it is listed 1st among the top things to do in Abu Dhabi 
.
Even though the weather was not in our favor, this visit to the grand mosque gave us much-needed peace and happiness. It was my first trip to any mosque, and I absolutely enjoyed every bit of it. From admiring the breathtaking architectural design to getting a closer view of some of the world’s best pieces adorning the mosque, from experiencing serenity to learning about the history and culture of Abu Dhabi, you can experience all of this when you would be in the Grand Mosque.
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We are again planning to visit Abu Dhabi, and next time I will ensure to visit this Grand mosque in the evening . Now let me know in the comments-
Have You Visited The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi? If Yes, Do Share Your Experience In The Comment Section Below.
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