Gone to Swan

Built in honour of the late Emir of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Zayed, The Grand Mosque is a unique mix of Moroccan and Turkish architectural influences.

The mosque features materials from a variety of countries including Italy, Germany, Morocco, India, Turkey, Iran, China, Greece and the United Arab Emirates.

Mainly constructed with natural materials, the Grand Mosque features marble, stone, gold, crystal, ceramics and semi-precious stones.

Featuring 80 domes, the main dome of the mosque is 32.7 metres in diameter and stands 70 metres from the inside, 80 metres from the outside, the largest of its kind in the world. Although a building of worship for followers of Islam, the building is open to people of all faiths and tours are held daily, except Fridays, which is the day of worship for Muslims.

Other interesting features of the mosque include the largest handwoven Persian carpet in the world (7119 square metres), made specifically for the mosque and 20,000 handmade marble panels made for the prayer halls, which contain lapis lazuli, red agate, amethyst, abalone and mother of pearl.

Minarets, standing 107 metres tall, flank the corners of the mosque, while several artificial lakes surround the building, as well as pools, reflecting the image of the mosque. 

The Grand Mosque has its ties to both the past and the present – the traditional needs of a building of worship and the openness of  a building for everyone in the 21st century.

For more information: The Grand Mosque