Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is located in Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the United Arab Emirates.
The largest mosque in the country, it is the key place of worship for daily prayers, Friday gathering and Eid prayers.
During Eid, it may be visited by more than 41,000 people.
The Grand Mosque was constructed between 1996 and 2007.
It was designed by Syrian architect Yousef Abdelky.
The building complex measures approximately 290 by 420 m, covering an area of more than 12 hectares (30 acres), excluding exterior landscaping and vehicle parking.
The main axis of the building is rotated about 11° south of true west, aligning it in the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
Dimensions and alignment are estimated from satellite images; this information is not available at the Sheikh Zayed Mosque Web site as of 2014.
The project was launched by the late president of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who wanted to establish a structure that would unite the cultural diversity of the Islamic world with the historical and modern values of architecture and art.
His final resting place is located on the grounds adjacent to the complex.
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque has many special and unique elements: The carpet in the main prayer hall is considered to be the world's largest carpet made by Iran's Carpet Company and designed by Iranian artist Ali Khaliqi.
This carpet measures 5,627 m2, and was made by around 1200-1300 carpet knotters.
The weight of this carpet is 35 ton and is predominantly made from wool (originating from New Zealand and Iran).
There are 2,268,000,000 knots within the carpet and it took approximately two years to complete.
It's Abu Dhabi's star attraction, attracting millions each year, yet despite the footfall, there's a wonderful air of calm that surrounds the majestic Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
The UAE's largest and most ornate place of worship doesn't disappoint and with visitors traveling from around the globe to bask in the opulence, it's no surprise a staggering 3.4 million tourists came to experience it in 2017.
In the same year, it was ranked as the world's second-favorite landmark according to TripAdvisor -- surpassing other world stunners such as St Peter's Basilica in Vatican City and the Taj Mahal in India -- with Angkor Wat in Cambodia beating it to the top spot.
Work on Abu Dhabi's beacon of splendor started in 1996 and took 12 years to complete at the reported cost of around $545 million.
Now the third-largest mosque in the world at 22,412 square meters, it covers an area equivalent to nearly four football fields.
It holds more than 40,000 worshipers and has three Guinness World Records, for largest handwoven carpet and the biggest chandelier, as well as the largest dome of its kind in the world.
Spiritual significance and endless superlatives come together under 82 white marble domes, 1,096 exterior columns, 96 semi-precious jewel-encrusted internal columns and seven 24-carat gold plated Swarovski crystal chandeliers, making it the jaw-dropping centerpiece of the city's cultural legacy.
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque takes its name from the UAE's first president and the ruler of Abu Dhabi, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who conceived the idea.
He took architectural direction of the project with his wish for it to be his final resting place.
After his death in 2004, his body was buried in the mosque's courtyard.
The spectacular monument was designed by Syrian architect Yousef Abdelky.
Inspired by Persian, Mughal and Moorish architecture, it was a truly international collaboration of more than 3,000 artisans from 38 global construction companies.
Arguably the real opulence is in the tiny details, such as precious stones like amethyst and jasper embedded into the columns and the intricate floral patterns in mother-of-pearl radiating across the the walls.
Modest dress is a must for all visitors as it's a Muslim site.
Women should cover their legs, arms and heads and men are required to wear long trousers, however the mosque does provide free traditional abayas (robes) prior to entry, which takes the hassle out of trying to find a Mosque-appropriate outfit.
Everyone must remove their shoes before entering so bring a pair of socks if you prefer not to walk around barefoot.
You'll need a pair of sunglasses when marveling at the outside as the sun reflects on the marble surface of the courtyard.
The mosque is always busy but as it's so vast it never feels overcrowded.
An insider tip would be to avoid the searing midday heat by heading there first thing in the morning or late afternoon.
Taxis from Abu Dhabi city center are the quickest and most convenient way to get to the mosque as it's just a 20-minute ride, and the fares are reasonable.
Those staying in Dubai should definitely make the road trip as it's around 90 minutes from Dubai Mall and a real sight to behold, whether you're religious or not.
Combine the mosque with another Abu Dhabi-based attraction to make the most of your trip to the capital.
And those who prefer not to flag down a local Dubai taxi can ask their hotel concierge to arrange a private taxi to travel in air-conditioned luxury complete with iPhone charging ports.
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