The Sheikh Zayed Mosque

Book Private Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Tour from 271 $

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The Sheikh Zayed Mosque is one of the largest mosques in the world and was opened in 2007. The mosque bears the name of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al-Nahyan, who was the founder of the United Arab Emirates and their first president.

For tourists, this mosque is interesting not only for its majestic view but also for the fact that non-Muslim tourists are allowed here. A nice bonus is the fact that the entrance to the mosque is free. At the same time, up to 40 thousand people can be in the mosque simultaneously. The height of the mosque is 114 m.

Sheikh Zayed is buried near the mosque.

The mosque contains the largest carpet in the world. Its area is 5627 square meters, and the weight of the carpet is 47 tons.

Another record is the chandelier hanging in one of the halls. It is one of the largest chandeliers in the world and the largest installed in a mosque. The chandelier is decorated with gold leaf and Swarovski crystals.

Visiting hours and dress code

The mosque is open to visitors daily from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm (last admission 8:30 pm); on Fridays — from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm (closed during Friday prayer). A strict dress code applies: shoulders and knees must be covered, and women must cover their hair — abayas and headscarves are lent free of charge at the entrance if needed. Free guided walk-in tours in English run daily from the mosque's own cultural centre — check the schedule at the entrance.

The most interesting excursions to the Sheikh Zayed Mosque

Sheikh Zayed Mosque is not only featured on almost every postcard from Abu Dhabi but is also a key stop on most sightseeing tours of this city. You can choose one of them to get the most complete picture of the city.