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If you ever find yourself in Abu Dhabi, a visit to the exquisite and renowned Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is an absolute must. The full name of this sacred place is Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
Sheikh Zayed – The Magnificent White Mosque in Abu Dhabi
The Sheikh Zayed Mosque spans over 22,000m² with 4 gates, 82 domes, and 4 minarets towering at 107m. Completed in 2007, this architectural masterpiece cost nearly 600 million USD, showcasing pristine white marble imported from Greece on its exterior.
Within the main courtyard of the mosque – a dazzling white expanse with reflective pools and columns designed to accommodate 30,000 worshippers – inspiration is drawn from the Badshahi Mosque in Pakistan and the Hassan II Mosque in Morocco.
Gracing the corners of the mosque are four minarets standing tall at 107m, each representing geometric styles from three different civilizations: Mamluk of Egypt at the base, hexagonal North African influences in the middle, and cylindrical Ottoman architecture from Turkey on top. Each pillar is adorned with images of the characteristic palm tree – a symbol of the Middle East.
The Grand Mosque features 82 large onion-shaped domes reminiscent of Western onions, available in 7 different sizes, drawing inspiration from the Badshahi Mosque in Lahore, Pakistan – a representation of the beauty, passion, and authority of the Mughal Islamic era. The arched structures here reflect the essence of Moorish or North African Islamic architecture.
The grand prayer hall, accommodating 8,000 people, is supported by 96 towering columns, each covered with Macedonian marble and adorned with mother-of-pearl and various precious gemstones. There are two smaller prayer rooms, one for daily worshippers, and the other designated for women.
The vaulted ceiling and the pendant lights are adorned with numerous gemstones, reaching a height of 15m and weighing 10 tons, featuring crystal materials in shades of blue, red, gold, and white. The lights are suspended on load-bearing steel beams weighing up to 36 tons, with approximately 40 million Swarovski crystals used to embellish the seven chandeliers of the Mosque.
Beneath the floor lies an exceptionally beautiful and intricate carpet designed by Iranian artist Ali Khaliqi. This handwoven carpet is the world's largest, covering an area of nearly 6,000m², weighing 47 tons, and remarkably devoid of any stitches. It is a masterpiece crafted by 1,200 skilled artisans working tirelessly for 18 months, using 2.2 billion handwoven stitches, 38 tons of wool in 25 natural colors.
The process of transporting the carpet was an incredibly meticulous undertaking, as it was brought in from Iran and had to be cut into 9 pieces, transported on two large jet engines.
According to Dương Quán Hạ/Tuổi trẻ
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Reference: Travel guide by Mytour
MytourMarch 26, 2018
