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NEWS & MEDIA
As a Global Model for Places of Worship: Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre Delivers Two Lectures in Moscow
As part of an official visit to Moscow, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre (SZGMC) organised two lectures at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) and Moscow State University titled “Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque – A Place for All, Creativity in a Specialized Field.” The sessions were delivered by His Excellency Dr. Yousif Al Obaidli, Director-General of SZGMC, during the delegation's visit to prominent cultural and academic institutions in the Russian capital, where they met senior officials.
In the lectures—attended by around 100 university students, including Emirati nationals—His Excellency the Director-General of SZGMC detailed the Centre’s strategic journey in embodying the mosque’s global civilisational message. He highlighted the mosque's pioneering efforts in promoting tolerance and fostering intercultural dialogue. His Excellency further underscored the mosque’s distinctive position among global places of worship, emphasising its role in providing meaningful experiences that deepen visitors' understanding of Islamic culture and reflect the UAE’s dignified and enlightened global image.
The mosque attracts over six million visitors annually, with international visitors accounting for 81%, making it a key landmark in global religious and cultural tourism. It consistently ranks highly on TripAdvisor, with visitors expressing significant satisfaction with its services.
His Excellency the Director-General of the Centre likewise emphasised that these achievements reflect the visionary legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who envisioned the mosque as a platform for cultural dialogue and tolerance, evident in its architecture that blends diverse civilisational influences. Among its distinct features is the lunar illumination system, reflecting lunar phases and symbolising Islamic heritage's historical link with lunar cycles—a tradition meaningful across multiple cultures.
His Excellency also presented SZGMC’s "Al Shabab Al Banie" programme, encompassing initiatives such as "Ibn Al-Dar," the Junior Cultural Guide, Future Guide, and Youth discussions, highlighting youth as crucial drivers of societal progress. The Centre provides over 5,400 multilingual guided tours annually and offers night tours, the immersive "Diya – A Universe of Light" experience, the El-Delleel multimedia guide, and the "Bari Al Jami’ " Mural to enhance visitor engagement with Islamic heritage.
His Excellency drew attention to the "Spaces of Light" photography award, valued at AED 850,000, which has attracted 9,419 photographers from 70 countries, submitting over 30,000 images in its eight editions. “This award underscores art's power in fostering intercultural dialogue and celebrating the mosque’s universal aesthetic and civilisational mission.”
His Excellency the Director-General of the Centre highlighted the Centre’s significant "Ramadan at the Mosque" initiative, annually hosting over 1.8 million visitors and distributing around 2.15 million Iftar meals, alongside spiritual and cultural events, including the Ramadan Cannon and lectures by esteemed guests of His Highness the UAE President.
Further, he outlined SZGMC’s international outreach efforts, including participation in global events like Asia Travel Market in Singapore, World Travel Market in London, ITB Berlin, and the China International Fair for Investment and Trade. SZGMC’s mosque models have also been exhibited in over 20 global embassies and cultural institutions, enhancing its role as a cultural ambassador.
His Excellency noted that the average visitor stay at the mosque has increased from one to six hours, reflecting superior service quality. The Centre employs 515 professionals working around the clock, collectively contributing over 1.17 million work hours annually, managing extensive infrastructure including tunnels, escalators, elevators, lighting systems, and transportation.
During the visit, His Excellency the Director-General of the Centre met with leaders from MGIMO, the Russian State Library, and the Fund for Support of Islamic Culture, Science, and Education, discussing strategies to promote tolerance and peace globally and exploring museological exchanges, particularly through the Light & Peace Museum.
The delegation visited notable Russian cultural institutions such as the Kremlin Museums, the State Museum of Oriental Art, and the Russian State Library to observe best practices in museum operations and visitor management.
These activities coincided with unveiling a Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque model, the Light & Peace mobile library, and the Spaces of Light photography exhibition at the Moscow Cathedral Mosque, under the Jusoor Program’s "Minarets of the Two Capitals" initiative. Since 2012, this initiative, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has launched over 21 mosque models globally.
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Foreign Minister of Peru visits Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi
Elmer Schialer Salcedo, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Peru, visited the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, accompanied by Alberto Alejandro Farje Orna, Ambassador of Peru to the UAE,
The Foreign Minister of Peru and his delegation were accompanied by Dr. Yousef Al-Obaidli, Director-General of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre, during their tour of the mosque’s halls and exterior corridors.
They were introduced to the mosque’s cultural message of coexistence, tolerance, and openness, inspired by the legacy and values of the founding father. They also learned about the significant role of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre in promoting Islamic culture and enhancing cross-cultural communication worldwide.
The delegation was briefed on the mosque’s history, its architectural beauty, and the distinctive Islamic art that adorns its every corner. They were also introduced to the mosque’s unique collections and the finest examples of Islamic civilization, where diverse artistic and architectural designs have converged in harmony, creating a masterpiece that reflects the beauty of cultural unity.
On the sidelines of the visit, the minister said: “I feel grateful to be in this magnificent mosque. It is a place of worship and a space for tolerance, where people from all over the world gather under its roof. I believe that if our world had more landmarks like this mosque, and if the same efforts were made by men and women to build, organise, manage, and lead them, peace would prevail across the globe.”
At the end of the visit, the mosque presented the guest with a gift reflecting the mosque’s beauty, a compass inspired by its chandeliers, along with a copy of the book "Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque: Lights of Peace", the latest publication from the Cent The book highlights the mosque’s unique architectural style and takes readers on a visual journey to discover its architectural and artistic grandeur, featuring award-winning images from the “Spaces of Light” Award.
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President of the Republic of Lebanon Visits Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi
His Excellency Joseph Aoun, President of the Republic of Lebanon, visited Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, accompanied by His Excellency Youssef Raji, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants of Lebanon, along with the accompanying delegation.
The visit began with a stop at the mausoleum of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may his soul rest in peace, where the delegation reflected on his enduring legacy and wise vision that laid the foundations for a culture of tolerance, coexistence, and peace among nations.
His Excellency and the delegation were received by His Excellency Dr. Yousif Al Obaidli, Director-General of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre, who accompanied them on a tour of the mosque’s halls and outer corridors. The delegation was introduced to the mosque’s global message, which promotes dialogue, coexistence, and openness—values deeply rooted in the legacy of the late founding father. They were also briefed on the significant role played by the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre in promoting the essence of Islamic culture and fostering cross-cultural understanding worldwide.
During the tour, the delegation learned about the mosque’s foundation history and admired its architectural grandeur, intricate design elements, and rare artefacts—an embodiment of the finest contributions of Islamic civilisation throughout the ages. The mosque’s design harmoniously unites diverse artistic and architectural styles, creating a singular masterpiece that celebrates the beauty of cultural convergence.
On the sidelines of the visit, His Excellency stated:
“This magnificent religious landmark—through its beauty, architecture, and symbolic significance—reflects the UAE’s genuine commitment to preserving places of worship and ensuring they remain sanctuaries for connection, prayer, and unity.”
At the conclusion of the visit, the guest was presented with a gift reflecting the aesthetic spirit of the mosque: a compass inspired by the design of the mosque’s chandeliers, and a copy of the Centre’s latest publication, "Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque: Lights of Peace". The book offers readers a visually rich journey through the mosque’s architectural marvels, showcasing award-winning photographs from the Spaces of Light competition that highlight the mosque’s unique design features.
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HIGHLIGHTS
ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
The 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.
DOMES
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque includes 82 domes of various sizes. They combine many harmonious forms of Islamic architecture predominantly inspired by the Moroccan and Mogul styles. The largest of which is located at the center of the main prayer hall .it has a diameter of approximately 32.6 meters and a height of 84 meters. The white marble cladding, the onion-shaped 'crowns,' and the crescent-shaped finials decorated with gold-glass mosaic are striking features that distinguish the dome's design. The windows at the bottom of the dome allow natural light to enter the prayer halls. The inside of the domes features traditional Moroccan artwork made of a reinforced plaster called (GRG). It is decorated with verses from the Holy Quran, using different Arabic calligraphy styles such as Naskh, Thuluth, and Kufi. Whereas the 14 glass domes, distributed above the female and male ablution areas, are an essential design element of Islamic gardens in mosques.
The White Marble
The pure white color of the Mosque is one of its most distinctive characteristics, as it's a color synonymous with purity, virtue, and peace, which the late founder of the Mosque, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, was very fond of. More than 165,000 square meters of brilliant SIVEC marble from Macedonia covers the outer surfaces of the domes, the minarets, and the walls, chosen for its virtually flawless quality, and much of the white marble covering the interior of the Mosque comes from Italian quarries. The exterior courtyard (Sahan) is inlaid with hundreds of thousands of different types of mosaic marble pieces from Italy, India, Greece, and China, further bringing cultures around the world together through its aesthetic features and architectural designs..
The Minarets
The minarets of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque are its tallest architectural feature, rising to about 107 meters from the four corners of the courtyard. Their design reflects the diversity and comprehensiveness of the mosque's architectural style inspired by various Islamic architectural designs from different eras. The minarets are composed of several square, octagonal, and circular layers, adorned with distinctive sign features such as balconies, gilded finishes, spiral grids, and abundant cornices. In the past, the minaret performed many historical functions. However, its primary function was to provide a high place for the muezzin ( caller to prayer) to raise the call to prayer. Nowadays, through modern technology, the call to prayer is raised from the minarets of mosques by loudspeakers. It is worth mentioning that the word minaret comes from the Arabic word (manāra), meaning a beacon or a lighthouse, indicative of mosques leading in spreading knowledge and sciences across the Islamic eras.
The Courtyard
The Sahan (courtyard) is an open space ,usually square or rectangular in shape that is often found in larger ‘Grand’ mosque structures and used by worshippers during significant Islamic prayers and large gatherings. The Sahan of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is mainly used during official Eid Al Fitr(The Feast of Breakfast) and Eid Al Adha (The Feast of Sacrifice) prayers and for Taraweeh and Tahajjud prayers during the Holy Month of Ramadan. It spans an area of 17,400 square meters and accommodates up to 31,000 worshippers when full. More than 30 types of marble were used in the design of the Sahan, including Italian, Indian, Greek, and Chinese. Whereas more than 9 million mosaic pieces clad the designs of 3825 panels measuring 2.1 meters by 2.1 meters, of which 2,385 panels were designed with white marble and 1440 panels with colored marble. The intricate flower mosaics decorating the courtyard was designed by the British artist Kevin Dean, who embraced Sheikh Zayed’s passionate vision to create a mosque that unites the world, as he chose flowers from the Middle East, such as Tulips, Lilys, and Irises. As inlays of colored marble form exuberant floral patterns that curl and twist gracefully from the edges towards the center adorn the courtyard. While the rest of the Sahan was inlaid with thousands of small pieces of white marble. The courtyard of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque may well be the largest marble mosaic artwork in the world.
The Columns
More than one thousand columns flank the Mosque's exterior arcades, which is considered one of the striking features of the Mosque. The six-sided columns are clad with white marble slabs and inlaid with semi-precious stones, using a technique called "Pietra doura." The art form first appeared in Italy during the sixteenth century and was used in an adapted form by the seventeenth-century Mughal artisans in the Taj Mahal. The beauty of this meeting of two artistic techniques led to its revival and resurgence. The total number of columns in the exterior area is 1096, and each piece of marble on the columns was individually carved and inlaid here on-site during the final stages of construction. The column design is based on the date palm, and the stylized fronds that form the golden capitals are made of golden anodized aluminum.
The Reflective Pools
The reflective pools that run around the perimeter of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque are a traditional feature of Islamic architecture and gardens across the centuries. A total of 10 rectangular pools surround the Mosque and are tiled in different shades of blue. Nearly 7,000 square meters of water breathes freshness and life into the architecture and cools the bright shimmer of the white marble. The view is especially spectacular by night when a specially designed lighting system projects bluish-gray clouds onto the white surfaces of the Mosque.
The Lunar Illuminations
The mosque's lunar lighting system was uniquely designed to reflect the lunar cycle, projected onto the mosque's external surfaces and the illumination varies intensity and brightness throughout the Hijri month according to the moon's position and stage. Soft undulating clouds of a bluish color are projected onto the mosque's white marble external walls, including the façade and domes. Each day appears slightly different from the next as the lighting cycle commences with darker clouds when the month is in its early stages, and the moon is a small crescent. As the moon progresses through its cycle and becomes a full moon, the lighting effect becomes more brilliant. This concept of marking time and important events by the moon's phases is a phenomenon shared across many civilizations and cultures, such as the Hebrew, Chinese, Japanese Korean, and Hindu lunar calendars, further highlighting the commonalities between cultures. More than 840 lighting units are distributed around the mosque, projecting uniform precise rays. In addition, 22 light towers consisting of 10 to 13 light projectors that help achieve this creative effect.
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.
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 Mihrab
The Mihrab (Niche) is an essential architectural element of a mosque and symmetrically located in the middle of the Qibla Wall. It is a semicircular design located in the middle of the Qibla wall and traditionally known as the place where the imam will stand to lead the worshippers. Its Design is inspired by one of the references to ‘Heaven’ or ‘Paradise’ in the Holy Quran (Surah Mohammed-15) that describes the existence of many abundant rivers in heaven including a river of honey and milk. The yellow golden leaf-glass mosaic of the Mihrab seems to flow downwards from the ‘beehive’ feature at the top, as if it were a river of golden honey. The reason why the Mihrab is in a half circle shape is related to the pre-electronic times when it helped to project the imam’s voice and create an echo ,so that the worshippers could hear him.
The Minbar
The Minbar (Pulpit) at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is located on the right of the Mihrab. It includes 11 steps to allow the imam (leader of prayers) stands and deliver sermons (khutbah) to address the large number of worshippers that Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque receives. Made of carved American cedar wood inlaid with mother of pearl, white gold, and glass mosaic, the Minbar features floral and shell designs, with a small dome-shaped 'roof' and crescent finial at the top of the stairs. The Minbar is one of the early features of Islamic architecture. The historical references indicate that the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, used to stand by the trunk of a date-palm tree while delivering the sermon. Later, someone suggested they build a pulpit for him to stand or sit when delivering the sermon on Fridays, Eid, or other occasions.
The Al Noor Foyer
Floral vines climb and curl in elegant patterns on the walls, creating a beautiful semblance of living plants, and the flowers on the floor are species found in the Arabian Gulf, like Blue Plumbago and Field Gladiolus. Inspired by an image of a botanical garden, Kevin Dean designed the main and east foyers with flowers that grow in the Middle East and the side North and South entrances with species from the Northern and Southern hemispheres. The floral patterns and designs decorating these foyers welcome visitors from all walks of life with a reminder of home. In creating the floral patterns of the main and east foyer walls, the artisans used the relief technique, and that's why the flowers are in 3D shapes. Beautiful colored marble from over 37 countries adorns the floors and walls of the foyer, where all marble work was done by the Italian company Fantini Mosaici. The dome in this foyer is one of the Mosque's large domes, decorated with Moroccan plasterwork reinforced with fiberglass. Its designs feature traditional Islamic arabesque, and the Arabic calligraphy on this dome is a verse from the Holy Qur'an taken from the Chapter or Surat, Ar-Rahman (the Merciful). This particular calligraphy style is known as Naskh. Each dome is designed with different verses and in different Arabic calligraphies: Naskh, Kufic, and Thuluth."
The Main Prayer Hall
The main prayer hall is the largest in Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and can accommodate approximately 7,800 worshippers. It's also used for important prayers and large congregations, including Eid festivals, the Holy month of Ramadan, and Friday Sermons. The Mosque's symmetry is a central feature of Islamic design. Almost everything is repeated on either side of the center, as though in a mirror image. All prayer halls at the Mosque have been carefully designed to create a tranquil and serene ambiance, ranging from the interior columns, the aesthetic details adorning the walls, the carpet, and the chandeliers, which all are one of the most captivating features of the prayer halls. Also, symmetry at the Mosque is a central element of Islamic design. Where, almost everything is repeated on either side of the center, as though in a mirror image. The Mosque includes two additional prayer halls, one for men and the other for women, each of which can accommodate 1500 worshippers used during the daily prayers.
The Interior Columns
In the main prayer room, 96 columns stand in groups of four, inlaid with mother-of-pearl vines and topped with stylized, golden-colored palm fronds. They are arranged in three circular formats and contribute to the structural support for the three main domes of the main prayer hall. They also house the air conditioning system in the middle of each pylon. This work was completed mainly by craftsmen in China.
The Qibla Wall
The prayer hall has one wall facing Makkah, called the Qibla wall. The Qibla wall indicates the direction of the Ka'abah, the cubic-shaped building in the holy city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia. All Muslims pray facing the Ka'abah. The Qibla wall is cladded with Aquabianca and Bianco P marbles from Italy, and the design features many five-sided flower shapes, each containing a word. These are the ninety-nine most beautiful names or qualities of Allah, such as The Merciful, The Gracious, The Patient, The Wise, and The Charitable, to name just a few. This calligraphy style is called Kufic, and the Emirati calligrapher of the Qibla wall is Mohammed Mandi Al Tamimi. The wall is subtly illuminated with fiber-optic lighting. At the center of its design is a large circle. The name written inside is Allah, meaning God Almighty. The flower shape above it is empty. This absence represents Allah's unlimited qualities, which are unknown to us. Above the Mihrab (the niche) is a golden script, a verse from Al-A'araf Surah (chapter) that encourages Muslims to learn the meanings of Allah's qualities and use them during prayers. The Qibla wall has fewer colors than the walls behind them so that not to disturb the worshippers during their prayers.
The Clocks
There are 11 clocks in the inner halls of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, made in the United Kingdom and designed in the shape of a six-petaled flower made from stainless steel inlaid with pearls. In the center, the analog hands indicate the hour and minutes, while the digital panels indicate the prayer times. They are shaped like a six-petaled flower, each petal containing a flashing digital display. At the top, the time indicates the Fajr prayer time, followed by Shorouq or sunrise moving clockwise, then the Dhuhr prayer and Asr prayer. Later the Maghrib prayer performed between sunset and darkness, and concluding with the Isha prayer that is performed after dark, where the technology used takes into account the continuous change in dates throughout the year.
The Interior Walls
The walls of the main prayer hall are all clad with different types of marble from Italian quarries, such as white lasa, Bianco P, and Aquabianca. The elevations' patterns are interconnected circles forming five-sided stars and flowers clad with beautiful colored marble mosaics. The central glass part allows light to pass through.
The Glass Doors
The Mosque's glass doors are made of three panes of Italian Murano glass. The inner and outer panes are clear, but sandwiched between them, is a central pane with a beautiful floral design, using mosaic, cut, and sandblasting techniques. Glass doorways and openings like this bring light into the interior, illuminating the inner walls, floors, and domes. They also call to mind the careful attention paid to incorporating the finest and most distinctive artistic elements into every aspect of this mega structure of art and architecture.
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