Plan your visit

Be part of a rich cultural experience

Our Services

Explore our full range of services available to ensure you enjoy a memorable experience

Multimedia E-Guide

“El-Delleel” is a multimedia device that enhances the visitor experience at the mosque.

Religious Programs

Learn about the broad array of religious programs organized by the Centre.

Location

Find the Shortest Route to the Mosque.

QURAN RECITATIONS FROM SHEIKH ZAYED GRAND MOSQUE

Surah Al-Baqarah

00:50
00:00
02:46
Download
`

Hijri Calendar

VIEW CALENDAR

Al Jami Library

VISIT LIBRARY

Souq Al Jami

Souq Al Jami’

NEWS & MEDIA

#

Prime Minister of Solomon Islands visits Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

Jeremiah Manele, Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands, visited the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, accompanied by Peter Shanel, Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade of the Solomon Islands.

During their visit, Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele and his accompanying delegation toured the halls and external corridors of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, accompanied by Dr. Yousif Al Obaidli, Director-General of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre, where they were briefed on the mosque's message of coexistence, tolerance, and openness to others, all of which are rooted in the principles and values established by the UAE’s Founding Father.

They also learned about the significant role played by the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre in promoting a tolerant Islamic culture and enhancing cultural communication between various cultures and peoples worldwide, further exploring the history of the grand structure, its aesthetic grandeur, and the exquisite art of Islamic architecture displayed in all its aspects.

At the end of the visit, the guest was presented with a copy of "Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque: Lights of Peace". This publication provides a photographic journey through the mosque's architectural splendour, featuring award-winning images from the "Spaces of Light" Photography Award while highlighting the mosque's unique architectural artistry.

 

Read More
#

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre Strengthens Its Position on the Global Cultural Tourism Map, Coinciding with World Tourism Day

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre continues to solidify its position on the global cultural tourism map, offering a range of innovative services and initiatives that have turned it into a gathering place for cultures from around the world.

The Centre enriches the visitor experience through cultural tours available in Arabic, English, French, Russian, Hebrew, Mandarin, Korean, and Spanish, alongside specialized tours conducted in sign language. These tours provide an in-depth exploration of the mosque’s intricate Islamic architecture and the cultural narratives behind each design, underscoring the Centre’s mission to showcase Islamic art and heritage.

Reflecting its forward-thinking approach, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre offers "El-Delleel," a multimedia guide that provides immersive virtual tours in 14 languages, harnessing state-of-the-art augmented reality technology. Visitors are also invited to explore the mosque after hours through the exclusive "Sura" night tours, available from 10:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m., extending beyond regular visiting hours. Additionally, the "Unseen Glimpses from the Mosque" tour offers a unique cultural experience, allowing guests to spend an entire day at the mosque, with  club cars provided for convenience. These tours can be booked in advance via the Centre’s website, www.szgmc.gov.ae.

In celebration of World Tourism Day, observed annually on September 27, the Centre has organised a series of cultural tours for visitors, highlighting the mosque’s pivotal role in promoting cultural tourism within the UAE. Over the years, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque has become a key destination for both domestic and international tourists, establishing itself as an essential stop on any itinerary. The mosque plays a significant role in the cultural and tourism landscape of the nation.

In recent years, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque has cemented its status as one of the most important tourist destinations in the region and the world, welcoming nearly 7 million visitors annually. These guests are introduced to the stunning beauty of its Islamic architecture, which reflects the richness of Islamic civilization and emphasises values of tolerance, coexistence, and fraternity.

Read More
#

Speaker of Somalia's Senate visits Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

Abdi Hashi Abdullahi, Speaker of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Somalia, visited the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, accompanied by Mohammed Al Yamahi and Mohammed Al Dhohori, members of the Federal National Council (FNC).

During their visit, Abdi Hashi Abdullahi and his accompanying delegation toured the halls and external corridors of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, accompanied by Dr. Yousif Al Obaidli, Director-General of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre, and were briefed on the mosque's message of coexistence, tolerance, and openness to others, all of which are rooted in the principles and values established by the UAE’s founding father.

They also learned about the significant role played by the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre in promoting a tolerant Islamic culture and enhancing cultural communication between various cultures and peoples worldwide, further exploring the history of the grand structure, its aesthetic grandeur, and the exquisite art of Islamic architecture displayed in all its aspects.

At the end of the visit, the guest was presented with a copy of "Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque: Lights of Peace". This publication from the Centre which offers a photographic journey through the mosque's architectural splendour, featuring award-winning images from the "Spaces of Light" Photography Award and highlighting the mosque's unique architectural artistry.

Read More

HIGHLIGHTS

ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE

he complimentary guided cultural tours organized by Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre offer an educational, cultural, and interactive experience, making it one of the most popular cultural activities for all age groups! The standard tour duration is approximately 45 minutes and is delivered in Arabic and English by qualified Cultural Tour Specialists at the Centre.

The Chandeliers

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque houses 7 chandeliers that blend in harmony with its unique design and the esthetics of Islamic art and architecture that catch the eye of visitors from all over the world as three huge crystal chandeliers suspend from the three domes inside the main prayer hall , similar in design, with the largest in the middle, in addition to four smaller chandeliers distributed in the VIP foyer, the Floral foyer and the two side foyers of the main hall.

The design is inspired by the date palm tree, where the trunk is the cylindrical part of the chandelier, the fronds are the corresponding parts in a concave shape, and the colored globes are the dates or the fruits of the date palm trees, suggesting the noble values which the UAE society embodies such as authenticity generosity, and giving instilled by the late founding father for generations.

The chandeliers design features Islamic and floral designs, with most of the medallions located underneath ,as a reflection of them on the carpet. For example, look up at one of the chandeliers. See how the circular arabesque design comes to a central point. There, crystals hang like droplets of color, ready to splash onto the medallion design of the carpet below.

The largest chandeliers in the mosque are located in the main hall and are 12 m in diameter, 15.5m in height, with 15,500 LEDs. As for the other smaller versions of the same design, located in the main prayer hall, each weigh 8 tons and are 12.5 m in height and 7 m in diameter, with 9,500 LEDs.

The mosque also includes chandeliers that are 4.5 m in diameter and 6.5 m in height, weighing 2 tons with 1,200 LEDs.

Stainless steel gilded with 24-carat galvanized gold was used to manufacture the chandeliers, The panels of the chandeliers' are inlaid with Swarovski crystals, while the number of green, red, and yellow crystal balls used in the design are about 40 million pieces; which add a unique aesthetic touch to the entire prayer hall.

The Carpet

The main prayer hall houses the world’s largest hand-knotted carpet, by Guinness World Records in 2007. The intricate Islamic medallion carpet was hand-knotted by approximately 1,200 artisans and took around 2 years, including 8 months of designing and 12 months of knotting. The rest of the time was spent weaving the pieces together.

It was made in nine separate pieces, flown to Abu Dhabi, and stitched together on-site. The final carpet, which fills the entire Main Prayer Hall, is 5,400 square meters, weighs 35 tons, of which about 70% is made of New Zealand wool and 30% of cotton.

Also, one of the unique features included in the carpet manufacturing is the raised divisions that are not seams. These ridges indicate lines (prayer lines) where worshippers should stand to pray. The indication lines are separate from the design, although worshippers can easily identify the lines in which to stand when the prayers commence. The lines were made by shaving the carpet and leaving those lines elevated, so they decreased the thickness of the carpet to show the 32 elevated lines in the main prayer hall. The design features Islamic and floral designs, with most of the medallions located under the chandeliers as a reflection of them on the carpet.

For example, look up at one of the chandeliers. See how the circular arabesque design comes to a central point. There, crystals hang like droplets of color, ready to splash onto the medallion design of the carpet below. Throughout the Mosque, you will find a design relationship among the chandeliers, carpet, wall elevations, and glasswork.

Overview

The late founder of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan aspired to build a mosque personifying the moderation of Islam. This vision became a reality with the construction of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, one of the largest mosques in the world and a prominent landmark in the Emirates of Abu Dhabi. The first considerations to build the Mosque began in the late 1980s, and construction began on November 5th, 1996, and it opened for worship on Eid Al Adha 2007.

The Grand Mosque is a living reference of modern Islamic architecture that combines features and elements from various cultures across the Islamic civilization through its exquisite aesthetic and unique collections that have become the world's focus. While it also reflects the forward-looking vision of the founder, who sought for the Mosque to become a prominent religious and cultural edifice, and a platform that promotes notions of tolerance and cross-cultural communication. A vision also pursued by our leadership and embodied through the Mosque's position as a leading attraction for visitors from all over the world, firmly on the world tourist map.

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque attracts millions of visitors from all walks of life who blend in harmony within a framework of noble values that emanate from the tolerant nature of the Islamic religion, and which are an essential part of the principles and values ingrained in Emirati society.

Through offering a system of services and programs that cater to the needs of a broad segment of worshippers and visitors, the Centre has secured its position among the world's top three popular attractions for years in a row, according to TripAdvisor's 'Travellers Choice Awards. Several award forums also recognized the Centre's accomplishments.

The Mosque was built on an elevated land that rises about 10 meters, on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi, with a total area of more than 555,000 square meters and can accommodate about 55,000 worshippers.

The construction of the grand Mosque took approximately 11 years and its design and construction 'unites the world,' using artisans, craftsmen, and materials from many countries, including Italy, Germany, Morocco, India, Turkey, China, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Greece and of course the United Arab Emirates. More than 3,000 workers and 38 contraction companies participated in the Mosque construction!