When you enter Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, you will understand why it is such a special place. Here, people from all walks of life come together to take in the architecture's beauty and gain a deeper understanding of religion and culture in the United Arab Emirates. The mosque is one of the world's largest and was the vision of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan - the Founding Father of the UAE. He envisaged the creation of a welcoming and cultural haven that inspires people from all backgrounds.

Even the construction was a cultural collaboration. The grand structure was designed and built by skilled teams from all over the world, including 1,300 Iranian artisans who hand-knotted the main prayer hall's carpet - the world's largest.

On your journey through the marbled halls, you'll see one-of-a-kind treasures, including gold-plated Swarovski chandeliers, the courtyard's vast marble mosaic artwork and reflective pools that mirror some of the many amethyst-and-jasper-embedded columns. When you're outside, look up to see the mosque's four stunning minarets that proudly stand at 106 metres.

You’ll be overwhelmed not just by the architecture but by how welcoming the mosque feels. The open-door policy encourages visitors from around the world, from families to groups, solo travellers to congregations, to not only witness its beauty but also gain a deeper understanding of the Emirate’s culture of open dialogue.

Remember, as well as welcoming visitors to admire the architecture; the building is still an active mosque that welcomes up to 50,000 worshippers daily. Bear this in mind when planning your visit. Respectful clothing is a requirement for visitors to enter Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, and on Fridays, the main prayer hall is closed to visitors between 12 pm and 3 pm as Friday prayers take place.

Past visitors will encourage you to take one of the free guided tours. Experts will guide your eyes and ears to details some may usually miss, like the gold-leaf calligraphy which encircles the hollows of the mosque’s remarkable 82 domes.

Make a second trip to Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque when the sun goes down to witness the whole facade light up with even more majesty. Combining your evening trip with a visit to the poignant Wahat Al Karama memorial and dinner in the Al Qana district is highly recommended.

It’s open to non-Muslim visitors
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque offers free guided tours in English or Arabic. It’s open to visitors from Saturday – Thursday between 09:00 – 22:00 and on Friday from 16.30 – 22:00. Abayas are provided for women and long trousers for men. Don’t forget your sunglasses for those dazzling white surfaces.

The mosque was conceived by the first president of the UAE
The Grand Mosque takes its name from the UAE’s first president, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who was the driving force behind this majestic construction. He chose the location – the entrance of Abu Dhabi island between Musaffah Bridge and Maqta Bridge – and gave architectural direction on the project. His wish was for it to be his final resting place, and his body now resides in the mosque’s courtyard.


It’s the largest mosque in the UAE
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is a colossal place of worship; big enough to accommodate over 40,000 visitors. The largest mosque in the UAE and third largest in the world, the complex covers over 22,400sqm. The main prayer hall can hold more than 7,000 worshippers, and there are two smaller prayer halls with a capacity of 1,500 each. Such is the mosque’s size that more than 100,000 tonnes of Greek and Macedonian marble were used in its construction.


Dubai to Abu Dhabi distance 138 km

There are neither train services nor direct flights from Dubai to Abu Dhabi. Fortunately, there are plenty of options available to you. With the development of public transportation, car rentals, taxis, and even helicopters, there is a transportation option for every budget.

The most effective way to travel between Dubai and Abu Dhabi is by taxi. A standard trip by taxi from Downtown Dubai costs between AED 250 and AED 300 one way. The ride begins at AED 5 if you are travelling during the day, with an additional amount of AED 1.82 per kilometre charged thereafter.