But the UAE would have betrayed itself if it had not decided to create a majestic structure on the island that has no competitors or analogues in the world.

Location of Sheikh Zayed Mosque

It was erected in the capital of the United United Arab Emirates- Abu Dhabi, located 20 minutes drive from the island of the same name. Today the island is connected to the mainland by three highways. In this regard, getting to the shrine is not at all difficult. You can get there within 2.5 hours by bus, which goes directly to the temple. From Dubai you can take a taxi. You will get there much faster, but you will have to pay an extra 10 dollars for it. You can also catch a transit bus, which costs only $15. The most expensive transport here will be a taxi. You will pay about $70 for the trip.

History of creation

It was erected quite recently in 2007. However, despite this, it was immediately recognized as one of the most majestic landmarks on earth. The mosque is very different from other similar buildings. While most temples have a discreet, simple architecture, the Sheikh Zayed Mosque is distinguished by truly royal wealth and splendor. You can call it a real work of architectural art. The most important feature of the temple is that during the design, the architects laconicly and unobtrusively combined the national Muslim style with European canons and traditions.

It is no coincidence that the mosque has this name. The ideological inspiration for the creation of the structure was the President of the UAE Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan. This man brought a lot of new things to the development of the state, united six principalities that were politically distant from each other, which later became a single state. After the creation of the UAE, it was Sheikh Zayed who achieved independence from Great Britain and, thanks to oil production, brought the country to a new qualitative level. The sheikh did not live to see the completion of construction for only three years. In gratitude for all his deeds, the authorities buried their beloved ruler next to his dream.

Design and construction

To create such large-scale project it took more than 25 years and $500 million was spent. The competition for the creation of the project was initially announced in the UAE. However, not only Arab architects, but also craftsmen from other European countries sent their works. The construction ultimately involved three thousand workers from 38 construction companies. At first they wanted to decorate the mosque in the Moroccan style. But they never came to a consensus. As a result, in the style of the temple you can find Arabic, Moroccan, Persian, Moorish and European elements. The external part of the mosque is created in Turkish style.

The architects wanted to create a structure that would remain unchanged for many years, so they spared no expense on high-quality materials for construction. We used a lot of Macedonian marble, and decorated the interior walls precious stones and natural minerals.

The official opening took place in 2007. In the same year, the mosque was recognized as the largest in the world, with an area of ​​5627 square meters. meters. Its walls can accommodate more than 40 thousand parishioners. From the very beginning, the Zayed Mosque became popular among tourists. More than three hundred thousand people visit it annually. Moreover, it is surprising that the doors of the temple are open not only to Muslims, but also to representatives of other faiths. This is the second temple after Jumeirah that allows visitors not only to Muslims.

As in any holy place, tourists are required to dress according to the canons created by the mosque. If you don’t come in proper form, you will be given special clothes at the entrance.

Exterior design

The mosque is paved with magnificent white marble, forming a courtyard. Its area is approximately 17 thousand square meters. meters. In addition to the aesthetic function, it also has practical significance. Since it is hot in the UAE, the marble columns and floor create a breeze and coolness. In addition to marble, swimming pools and artificial rivers also create a cool atmosphere. Moreover, all the reservoirs are located in such a way that they reflect all the decoration of the mosque. And pools are also considered a symbol of hospitality, giving life-giving power to all guests.

Interior design

As stated above, the mosque can accommodate more than 40 thousand people. Three large rooms have been created for rituals and prayers. In the main hall itself, only men can pray. The premises are designed for 7 thousand believers. The remaining two halls are used by women and accommodate 1.5 thousand visitors.

All rooms are decorated with marble slabs decorated with precious stones. In addition to stones, some slabs are decorated with gold. The unusual ornaments in the form of plants and flowers also delight. In the main hall there is a pulpit made entirely of wood and inlaid with stones. It is a work of art and constantly attracts crowds of tourists around it. Even the ceiling here is very unusual. There are seven huge chandeliers hanging on it, decorated with gold leaves and Swarovski crystals.

Among the chandeliers there is a record holder - the largest chandelier in the world with a diameter of 10 meters. The floor is decorated with a huge carpet with an area of ​​5.5 square meters. meters. More than two thousand weavers worked on its creation over several years.

The Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Mosque is one of the most beautiful mosques in the world, and without a doubt, it is one of the most important architectural treasures of modern Emirati society. The stunning mosque is probably one of Abu Dhabi's most imposing religious and national landmarks today. Its construction was initiated by the penultimate President His Highness Sheikh Zayed, who is called the founding father of the UAE.

The mosque, called the Grand Mosque by locals, is truly grandiose and majestic. I don’t have a wide one yet, and its fragments could hardly fit in the viewfinder of my cropped camera...


1. The Sheikh Zayed Mosque has 80 domes, which are decorated with white marble. The main dome is 32.7 meters in diameter - the largest of its kind.


2. Four 107-meter minarets rise in the corners of the mosque.


3. The best designers and material suppliers from almost anywhere in the world were involved in the development of the concept and construction of the mosque - Italy, Germany, Morocco, India, Turkey, Iran, China, Greece and the UAE.


4. Natural materials used in construction included marble, stone, gold, semi-precious stones, crystals and ceramics.


5. The exterior of the mosque has 1096 columns, decorated with hand-carved marble panels, inlaid with semi-precious stones, including lapis lazuli, red agates, amethysts and pearls.


7. The courtyard, covering an area of ​​17,000 square meters, is decorated with colorful mosaics.


8. They surround the mosque artificial lakes and channels decorated with dark tiles.


12. Interior design that makes a deep impression complements the delightful appearance mosques.


13. Italian white marble and mosaic floral designs decorate the prayer hall, while the interior walls of the mosque are decorated with 24-karat gold mosaics.


15. The mosque is decorated with candlesticks, which were brought from Germany and decorated with thousands of stones from Swarovski.


16. The largest of these candlesticks, suspended from the main dome of the mosque, is considered the largest in the world, measuring 10 m in diameter, 15 m in height and weighing between 8 and 9 tons.
This photo is essentially a panorama. It is assembled from several frames.


17. Instead of lamps - LEDs.


20. The main prayer hall is also decorated with the world's largest hand-woven Persian carpet, measuring 7,119 square meters. 40,960 thousand believers can gather in the mosque for prayer at the same time.


21. The Qibla Wall is 23 meters high and 50 meters wide and is elaborately decorated with the 99 names of Allah in traditional Kufi calligraphy, with expertly crafted backlighting. 24 carat gold, gilding and mosaic gold glass were also used for the mehrab (niche in the center of the Qibla wall).


23. I identified my wife only by her bag... Upon entering the mosque premises, females were given these black robes and all the women in the back were the same. Clothes are issued in a clean condition, and upon leaving they are dumped into large containers for subsequent washing. Men enter the mosque in what they came in, but at the same time, the clothes of each person who comes must meet certain requirements: be decent, conservative, not tight-fitting, with long sleeves. Long skirts and trousers. Shorts for men are prohibited.


24. In different places, there are clocks hanging on the walls, showing some information in several phases. “According to one version,” they measure time according to the Islamic calendar. But as they corrected me in the comments, “this is the time of prayers (5-fold prayers and the time the sun comes out).”


25. Crazy beautiful stained glass windows are used on the windows...


26. ...only the lazy one didn’t point his camera lens at them.


28. On the outside of the mosque there are light installations camouflaged under white columns. During the day they are not so noticeable against the background of the entire complex, but at night they cover the building with a beautiful colored blanket.


29. True, I didn’t take any evening photos, because... We were not there (unfortunately) for long, and the bus took us to see other sights.
And a visit to this mosque, one might say, is welcome. Admission is free and it is not prohibited to join public tours. For independent visits, the complex is open from Saturday to Thursday from 9 am to 12 pm.

And there really is something to see. The beauty is indescribable. There was a lot I didn’t show, a lot didn’t fit in, a lot I didn’t grab, and even more I didn’t see at all. As usual, the costs of the excursion program...

The information from the site below was very helpful in preparing this post.

When you read the description or see with your own eyes ancient religious buildings - temples, cathedrals, churches - you are amazed with what love, awe and faith these were created unique monuments architects of antiquity. It seems that it is impossible to create anything more perfect. However, modern builders refute this opinion.

A striking example of this is the Sheikh Zayed Mosque, a magnificent architectural masterpiece that appeared on earth at the beginning of the 21st century. It is the sixth largest mosque in the world. It is dedicated to the first president and founder of the state (UAE), Sheikh Zayed. The facility was officially opened in 2007.

Where is the mosque?

The capital is the wonderful city of Abu Dhabi, where the world-famous mosque is located. The city is located on the island of the same name in the Persian Gulf. Now it is connected to the mainland by three bridges (road), so it is easy for anyone who wants to see the mosque to get to the capital. This can be done, for example, from the neighboring emirate of Dubai. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque will appear in front of you in 2.5 hours. That's how long the journey takes.

Sheikh Zayed - founder of the state

The magnificent snow-white Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi received its name for a reason. The initiator of the creation of a unique structure was the President (first) of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed. This man played an important role in the history of the country. He was able to unite six principalities (Ajman, Abu Dhabi, Fujera, Umm al-Qaiwain, Ras al-Khaimah, Dubai, Arjah) into a single federal state. After this he achieved independence from England. The oil trade made it possible to transform the Emirates into a prosperous state. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque (UAE) was officially opened three years after the death of the Sheikh. He is buried to the right of the temple. From the moment of burial, the mosque ministers read the Holy Quran 24 hours a day.

Not only the mosque is dedicated to the memory of the legendary sheikh. Locals they honor him, and therefore strive to perpetuate his name. Abu Dhabi has the most beautiful bridge and a huge football stadium. These buildings also bear the name of Sheikh Zayed.

Construction

The planning and construction of this grandiose structure lasted more than twenty years. It cost the state treasury $500 million. Initially, a competition for the creation of a temple project was announced in the UAE and some other Arab countries, but then it began to be carried out all over the world. Architects from different countries sent their proposals and competition works.

More than three thousand people representing thirty-eight organizations worked on the construction of the mosque. It was decided to build the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi, but later, during the construction process, changes appeared in the project. Elements of Persian, Moorish and Arabic styles began to be visible in the building. The outer walls of the temple are made in Turkish style (classical).

Materials

The creators of the unique structure dreamed that the Sheikh Zayed Mosque would retain its original architectural appearance for as long as possible. That is why only the highest quality materials were used in construction - Macedonian marble. In the interior and exterior decoration you can see gold, precious and semi-precious stones, multi-colored crystals, semi-precious stones, ceramics, crystal.

Architecture

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque occupies a huge area of ​​22,400 square meters. m. It can accommodate more than forty thousand parishioners. Everyone who comes to the Emirates strives to see her. More than three hundred thousand tourists visit the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque every year. It should be noted that, unlike other mosques, not only Muslims, but also adherents of other faiths can enter here. This is the second temple in the UAE after Dubai, which can be visited by representatives of other religions.

Description of the temple

The Sheikh Zayed Mosque (Abu Dhabi) can only be described using superlative adjectives - the largest, most beautiful, most visited in the country. The total area of ​​the premises is comparable to five football fields. Minarets rise at the four corners of the structure. Their height exceeds one hundred meters.

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is famous for its main prayer hall, where 9,000 worshipers can pray at the same time. It is decorated with fifty-seven snow-white domes. Two more rooms are created specifically for women. They can accommodate 1,500 worshipers each. Before entering the temple, a woman must put on a burqa.

This unique building has eighty domes covered with white marble. Outside and in the center are more than a thousand columns, decorated with hand-carved white marble panels. They have inclusions of lapis lazuli, pearls, agate and other semi-precious stones. The mosque has a courtyard with an area of ​​more than 17 thousand square meters lined with white marble slabs with exquisite ornaments. m. It plays a practical role, which is very important in the hot climate of the country - numerous colonnades (more than a thousand) help create a light breeze.

The walls of the temple, lined with slabs of snow-white marble, shimmer under the sun's rays during the day, and in the evening the room is illuminated with luxurious lighting. It changes color from white to dark blue.

Interior decoration

This is a truly unique building - the Sheikh Zayed Mosque. Abu Dhabi (UAE) is famous for its beautiful designs, but the splendor and luxury of this temple amazes even the Arabs.

The interior is decorated with a huge number of candlesticks covered with gold and inlaid with Swarovski crystals. The largest of them is attached to the main dome. Gold and gilding were used in the construction of the Qibla Wall. Ninety-nine names of the great Allah are carved on it.

Carpet

The mosque has the largest carpet (over 5600 square meters in area). It was woven for two years. This work of art was created according to a sketch by artist Ali Khaliki. One thousand two hundred weavers and twenty technical groups worked on its creation.

Not only the size of the carpet is amazing, but also the numbers that guides tell visitors - it took thirty-six tons of wool and twelve tons of cotton to make it. Its weight is forty-seven tons. The carpet consists of 2,268,000 knots.

Mosque lighting

German craftsmen made seven chandeliers for the unique temple. They are covered and decorated with Swarovski crystals. The largest chandelier in the world today is also located here. Its diameter is ten meters, height is twelve meters. This structure weighs twelve tons.

Around the mosque there are artificial canals and lakes decorated with dark tiles. These reservoirs reflect all the splendor of the snow-white temple.

We have already said that anyone who wishes can enter the Sheikh Zayed Mosque, regardless of religion or nationality. But at the same time, certain rules must be followed. Believers of other faiths or tourists cannot enter the temple during the service. In addition, it is prohibited to touch the Koran, as well as elements associated with prayers.

It is necessary to pay attention to the choice of clothing. It should be strict and closed. Today, free, exciting excursions are held here. Tourists recommend visiting this building in the evening. It is illuminated by countless lights and looks simply amazing.

Many people are mistaken in thinking that a magnificent mosque was built to display wealth. local population and additional attraction of tourists. In fact, this unique structure is the personification of respect and immense gratitude to Sheikh Zayed, who united the impoverished Bedouin principalities and created a powerful country.

There is a very large library on the premises of the mosque. And in 2008 it was created here Cultural Center « Great Mosque Sheikh Zayed." His responsibilities include managing day-to-day operations - education and conducting excursion programs for visitors.

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque has 82 domes in seven different sizes. The largest is 85 meters high (height from the inside is 70 meters), 32.2 meters in diameter.

Columns

The courtyard is surrounded by 1,048 columns, lined with more than 20,000 marble slabs interspersed with semi-precious shells, amethysts, lapis lazuli, red agates and mother-of-pearl. The long colonnades look amazing, see the photo below, click on the photo to enlarge.

Ponds

From the north, south and east, the mosque building is surrounded by ponds (there are 10 of them in total). A special lighting system has been created for these ponds. The illuminated walls, columns and domes of the mosque are reflected in the waters of the ponds, reminiscent of the night sky with clouds and moonlight.

The brightness of the lighting changes depending on the current phase of the moon. The illumination is created by 22 special towers, they are impossible not to notice. If you want to see this, come here after sunset.

Prayer hall

The prayer hall is open to non-Muslims only during non-prayer times. That is, between the morning (Fajr) and midday (Zuhr) prayers.

The main prayer hall can accommodate up to 7,000 believers, two secondary ones - up to 1,500 believers. One of these secondary rooms is for women. It is in the main hall that the main miracles of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque are hidden.

The prayer hall has 96 columns covered with mother-of-pearl. On the walls you can see 80 mosaics made from Iznik ceramics from Turkey. The Thuluth style inscriptions on these mosaics were created by the Turkish calligrapher Sheikh Hassan Tselbi. Note the large glass gate, it is 7 meters wide, 12.2 meters long and weighs 2.2 tons.

In the main prayer hall, look up and you will see the large dome of the mosque from the inside. Please note that the hall is shaped like an octagonal star.

Carpet

In the prayer hall you need to watch your step. The carpet covering the floor is the largest in the world (pictured above, click to enlarge). Its area is 5627 sq.m., it consists of 2,268,000,000 knots, and its weight exceeds 35 tons. It was woven in Iran for two years by 1,200 craftsmen.

The design of the carpet was developed by the Iranian Ali Kaliki, and production was supervised by the Iranian state company Iran Carpet Co. This carpet cost 30 million AED.

A masterpiece of modern technology (pictured on the left, click to enlarge). The light on the Qibla wall is supplied by the EFO system, that is, it is transmitted from remote sources using optical fiber. The EFO system is powered by 250 remote lamps. The developer of the optical system is Fiberstars EFO.

There are 99 names (attributes) of Allah written on the wall in Kufic script. These inscriptions were made by the famous calligrapher of the UAE - Mohammed Mandi Al-Tamimi.

The width of the Qibla wall is 50 meters, the height is 23 meters.

The prayer halls are illuminated by seven chandeliers produced by the German company Faustig. To understand how expensive it is, you can look on the Internet for prices for ordinary Faustig home chandeliers. And the chandeliers for the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque are made of millions of Swarovski crystals.

The largest chandelier is in the center of the main hall (pictured on the right, click to enlarge), diameter - 10 meters, height - 15 meters, weight - 12 tons. At the time the mosque was built, this chandelier was the largest in the world. Now the record has been broken; in 2010, an LED chandelier weighing 18 tons was installed in the Ali Bin Khalifa Al Hitmi & Co building in Qatar.

These seven chandeliers cost AED 30 million. The total weight of gilding on them is 40 kilograms of 999 gold!

Have a great visit to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, and read our helpful and interesting for tourists articles about the United Arab Emirates ( links below).

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) consists of seven emirates. Each emirate can manage its hydrocarbon reserves on its own territory. Thanks to this, each emirate influences the politics of the country as a whole differently. But despite this, the Emir of Dubai is the head of government. The capital of the UAE is Abu Dhabi, in which it is located Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.

Why was the city called Abu Dhabi?

Abu Dhabi city has a very interesting story. The city itself was founded in one thousand seven hundred and sixty. But people have been living on the site of this city since the third millennium BC. From Arabic, Abu Dhabi is translated as “father of the gazelle”; there is a legend about this that tells about the origin of such unusual name. It tells how Arab hunters chased a gazelle from one oasis. After some time of chasing, the gazelle led its pursuers to the shore Persian Gulf. To escape, she waded through the water to the island, and the hunters followed her. Her path led them to a source of the purest and most delicious fresh water, and in gratitude they gave the gazelle life. They named the settlement founded near this source Abu Dhabi, that is, “father of the gazelle.”
Subsequently, with the development of this country, three road bridges were built from the mainland to the island on which the city is located. Abu Dhabi is considered one of the hottest cities in the world. For example, in summer the temperature can reach fifty degrees Celsius.

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

The beautiful capital of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi, is home to a large Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Zayed bin Sultan al-Nahyan is the founder and also the first president of the Emirates, and the mosque was named in his honor. The President is buried next to this mosque. The mosque opened in two thousand and seven, namely in the month of Ramadan. It hosts free excursions For everyone. Number of mosques in the Emirates is very large, since it is an Islamic country. But, unlike the Sheikh Zayed Mosque, visitors and tourists are not allowed into them.
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque – the most beautiful mosque, especially for tourists.

Mosque architecture allows you to accommodate forty thousand believers. The main prayer hall is designed for seven thousand believers. Next to it there are two rooms that are intended only for women. These rooms are spacious; one and a half thousand people can stay there at the same time. There are four minarets in the four corners of the mosque. They rise about one hundred and fifteen meters. The eighty-two domes located on the main building are decorated with white marble, and the interior decoration is also made from it.

The world's largest carpet.

The courtyard of the mosque measures seventeen thousand four hundred square meters and is paved with colored marble. There is a carpet spread inside the mosque; it is not just huge, it is considered the largest carpet in the world. The area of ​​this carpet is five thousand six hundred twenty-seven square meters. The drawing of the carpet was made by the artist Ali Khaliki, and the company “Carpets of Iran” embodied it on this carpet.
Thirty workers, one thousand two hundred weavers and twenty technical groups worked on the carpet.

It required twelve tons of cotton and thirty-six tons of wool. The weight of the carpet is forty-seven tons. The carpet consists of two million two hundred sixty-eight thousand knots.

The largest chandelier in the world.

Seven chandeliers were made for the halls of the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Germany, decorated with Swarovski crystals and gold leaf. The largest chandelier in the world also hangs in this mosque. Its diameter is ten meters and its height reaches twelve meters. The chandelier weighs twelve tons.