Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Tour Guide

The domes are one of the major attractions of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Tour as there are 82 domes in total. The largest dome is located in the centre and it is the one where the prayer is done.

You will get to witness the stunning white marbles used on your Sheikh Zayed Mosque tour. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan was very fond of white marbles and demanded that the mosque be built in white marbles, and the entire architecture based on the same is simply beautiful.

The lighting system is one of the unique ones in the entire world as it is designed according to the cycle of the moon. The lighting is different every night according to the moonlight and the mosque glows the best when there is a full moon.

The carpet in the main prayer hall is 5,700 square meters, 70% of which is made of wool and the rest 30% is made of cotton. It took 1200 artisans to make the carpet in 2 years designed by the third-generation artist and carpet maker Dr Ali Khaliqi.

On your Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque tour, you will witness the Pulpit or Menbar. The Menbar is designed in floral and shell designs which are carved on cedar wood and engraved with pearl, glass mosaic, and white gold. The pulpit has a dome-shaped roof and has 11 steps to allow the Imam to sit at a higher level to address the large crowd that visits the mosque.

The seven chandeliers in the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque are one of the most beautiful attractions to look at during your Sheikh Zayed tour. The largest chandelier, which weighs 12 tonnes, is found in the main prayer hall and was constructed in Munich, Germany. There are other chandeliers in the foyer and domes which are either the exact miniature of the largest chandelier or similar design.

The Sheikh Zayed Mosque has four minarets, each of different geographical shapes but having the same height of 106 meters. Minarets have been one of the most important parts of Islamic architecture. There is a library in one of these minarets, being the only library in the world to be inside a minaret.

The mosque is surrounded by a number of rectangular pools made of different shades of blue. The pools take up around 7874 square meters of the area and reflect the exact image of the mosque at night with the lighting.

There are 1096 columns in the Sheikh Zayed Mosque which have been inspired by the palm tree, the most important tree in the United Arab Emirates. The external columns are made up of white marbles carved with precious stones, intricately designed using the Pietra Dura design. There are 96 internal columns which are divided into four groups that support the three main domes.

The Mihrab is one of the major parts of a mosque and the Mihrab here is inspired by what is described as heaven in the Holy Quran. It states that there are rivers of honey and milk in heaven and the Mihrab goes downward designed in golden leaf-glass mosaic in a beehive pattern as if it is a river of honey. The Mihrab is semi-circular since it was built before electricity because it allowed everyone to hear the Imam's sermons.

The Sahan or the courtyard is used during large gatherings like the month of Ramadan and Eid, where they pray in large gatherings. The courtyard is 17,500 meters square and can accommodate up to 31,000 people. The floor of the courtyard is decorated in marble pieces making beautiful patterns of flowers.

The Sheikh Zayed Mosque is keen on taking part in lots of annual exhibits, both local and international. Some of the exhibitions are Arabian Travel Market, Gulf Information Technology Exhibition, and Abu Dhabi International Book Fair. Some international events are Arabia EXP, World Travel Market, ITB Berlin, etc.

There are various activities at the Sheikh Zayed Mosque which require the involvement of the Emirati youth. It is believed by the mosque that it is better to welcome people by the youth of Emirates, hence they are given cultural guidance. There are various activities which make the youth work in the field and learn from it.

The Ewan programme focuses on the cultural role of art as a universal language and includes workshops on architecture and the aesthetics of the Sheikh Zayed Mosque. The workshops are hosted by a lot of experts who specialise in activities like engraving, Arabic calligraphy, painting, ornamentation, etc.

There are various recreational activities done which mainly focuses on attracting people from other cultures and ensuring their comfort in the Sheikh Zayed Mosque. The mosque also has various restaurants and cafes for visitors to make them feel at home. The visitors to the mosque are astounded by the breathtaking sights they see and by the renowned culture they encounter there.

The library is located in the visitor’s section of the Sheikh Zayed Mosque and is large enough for you to get lost between the books. If you love reading, you will be enchanted by the library's elegance and aesthetics, which make it one of the best libraries in the world for studying Islamic culture. The library was established in 2010 and provides a collection and resources on scientific research and intercultural relationships.

The tours last from 30-45 minutes and you will get to witness the stunning Islamic architecture and craftsmanship. The tour will teach you the history of the construction of the mosque and how the mosque promotes intercultural tolerance and codependency.