Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

On our last day in Abu Dhabi we decided to join the public tour of one of the mosques - it was well worth it and if you are ever in Abu Dhabi it is a must do!!!!

(click on the images to see them larger)

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is one of the world's largest capable of accommodating 40,000 worshippers. It is absolutely incredible inside - u must go to see it if you are ever in Abu Dhabi. It is the only mosque in Abu Dhabi that non muslims are allowed inside.

One of the many chandeliers in the mosque

This is the main prayer hall which holds up to 5,000 worshippers. It contains the worlds largest hand woven carpet measuring 5,700 square metres and was created in Mashhad, Iran by 1300 weavers

There are one thousand gilt topped, marble columns, designed to represent the cherished date palm. They bear intricate floral patterns meticulously hand crafted from semi-precious stone and mother of pearl.

Close up of the columns

At the centre of the main prayer hall is the world's largest crystal chandelier - one of seven. It measures 10 metres in diameter, stands 15 metres in height and weighs around nine tonnes. It contains over 1 million crystals.

Design of the marble tiles

This is also an area where they pray. The marble is non heat absorbent and reflects the heat - so the marble always stays cold. As when they pray they place their foreheads on the ground.

Mother of pearl on the wooden doors

The mosque has 82 domes, gold-topped with 24 carat gold- one of which at 32.7 metres in diameter and 85 metres high is the world's largest of its kind according to the Turkish Research Centre for Islamic Heritage and Culture.

The main entrance to the mosque contains no less than 87,000 stunning glass mosaic pieces - all were hand-blown in Murano, Italy and precision cut before being shipped to the UAE.

I joked that I should take my own abaya to the mosque. But info just said that you had to be covered - which I was. But all ladies had to wear an abaya regardless and cover their heads.

The mosque has minarets at each of its four corners. Standing 107 metres high, the minarets are topped with 24 carat gold.

Inside one of the many domes.

The design on the ceiling mirrors the design on the floor.

The women's prayer room holds 1000 people

The "White Room" in the Koran it talks about a white room with flowers in it. Sheikh Zayed designed a room which represents the white room in the Koran (holy book)