A 60,570 sq ft Persian carpet, probably the biggest carpet in the world, is going to amaze you – while you are in the prayer hall of the majestic Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque – and your trip to Abu Dhabi is really incomplete – if you do not experience this. This wonderful mosque, a spiritual place, is a magnificent national landmark in Abu Dhabi – a place of architectural excellence.

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, with its stunning manifestation of contemporary UAE architecture, is one of the most beautiful mosques in the world. This was initiated by the late president HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who is also lovingly thought of as the father of the UAE.

Though the first considerations to build the Mosque began in the late 1980s, the initial architectural design was settled in the late 1990s. Popularly known as Grand Mosque, using artisans and materials from countries all over world, such as Italy, Germany, Morocco, India, Turkey, Iran, China, Greece and the UAE, this is considered as a construction to unite the world. Its initial architectural design was Moroccan, but included many global features, such as; exterior walls are in the form of traditional Turkish design. This Mosque has seven imported chandeliers from Germany that integrate millions of Swarovski crystals from Austria and some glasswork from Italy. The largest chandelier inside, is the third largest chandelier in the world, 33 ft in diameter and 49 ft in height.

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque has 82 domes of Moroccan design, decorated with white marble and approximately 1,000 columns in its outer area, which are clad with more than 20,000 marble panels inlaid with various semi-precious stones. The main prayer hall can fit in around 7,126 worshippers, and features the world’s largest hand-knotted carpet from Iran. The 96 columns in the main prayer hall are round in shape and inlaid with mother of pearl. Moreover, the Mosque has four beautiful minarets standing at each of the four corners of the mosque.

The main glass door of the Mosque is 12.2 metres high, 7 metres wide and weighs about 2.2 tonnes. 28 different types of marble have been used throughout the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. The traditional Kufi calligraphy on the wall and equally impressive interior design complements the Mosque’s awesome exterior.

Reflective pools laden with dark tiles, surround the Mosque, whilst the coloured floral marble and mosaics cover the huge courtyard, which is decorated with white marble from Greece. The pools reflect the Mosque’s spectacular image, and at night it becomes even more resplendent.

To reflect the spirit of Islam, a religion of peace, education and tolerance, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque attracts visitors from all nationalities every year for educational tours and a marvelous architectural art form to experience.