Australian PM visits Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque – Abu Dhabi

His Excellency Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister of Australia, visited Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi alongside his partner Jodie Haydon. They were accompanied by His Excellency Fahad Obaid Al Taffaq, UAE Ambassador to Australia, His Excellency Ridwan Joudat, Australian Ambassador to the UAE, and senior members of the Australian delegation.

During the visit, His Excellency and the accompanying delegation were accompanied by His Excellency Dr. Yousif Al Obaidli, Director General of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre, who led them through the mosque’s expansive halls and courtyards. His Excellency outlined the history of the mosque’s establishment and its role as a cultural landmark embodying the values of coexistence, tolerance, and openness—principles rooted in the vision of the late Founding Father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, while also emphasizing the Centre’s mission to convey the essence of Islamic culture and to promote dialogue among nations and peoples.

Cultural tour specialist Rawda Al Marzouqi provided a detailed overview of the mosque’s artistic and architectural splendour, illustrating how Islamic civilisations across the centuries contributed to its design. The mosque, he explained, unites diverse traditions in a single architectural statement, reflecting the harmony and creativity of cultural exchange.

His Excellency the Prime Minister and his delegation also visited the mausoleum of the late Sheikh Zayed, recalling his wisdom and vision of peace that continue to shape the UAE’s culture of tolerance and coexistence.

The guest was presented with a commemorative gift reflecting the mosque’s artistic beauty—a compass inspired by the design of its chandeliers—along with a copy of “Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque:  Lights of Peace”, a publication that showcases the mosque’s distinctive architectural style and takes readers on a visual journey through its artistic and engineering splendour, featuring award-winning photographs from the “Spaces of Light” competition.