A quick stop over in Abu Dhabi before we were about to leave the Emirates. Of course we had to see the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, it is probably one of the most iconic religious and architectural landmarks in the United Arab Emirates – and the world. Impressive!
The mosque features 82 domes of seven different sizes …
… and four minarets that soar to about 104 meters in height.
A masterpiece of Islamic architecture
Construction began in 1996 and took more than a decade to complete — the mosque opened its doors in 2007. Today, it’s one of the largest in the world, with space for over 40,000 worshippers. From its 82 white domes to the mosaic-covered columns, mirror-still water pools, and touches of gold — every detail is deliberate. It’s Islamic architecture at its finest. Grand, graceful, and little too fancy.
IMPRESSIV outside AND inside: it’s home to the world’s largest hand-knotted carpet (in the main prayer hall) …
… and has one of the largest chandeliers in any mosque, made with Swarovski crystals.
