Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

On Monday night we took the 5:00pm tour of The Grand Mosque. This building is to Abu Dhabi what the Taj Mahal is to India. It was commissioned to be built by the late Sheikh Zayed, the father and founder of the UAE. Imagine total splendor - marble imported from Greece, Persian carpets, Austrian crystals, absolutely beautiful. The grand Mosque's design has inlaid flowers on the architecture everywhere - roses, lilies, morning glory and more. One my favorite buildings. The colors and design are very elaborate and tasteful.


Tower where the call to prayer is broadcast from. It is sung live here by an Iman - his prayer is fed electronically to all the local mosques in Abu Dhabi at the same time.

This mosque boasts the largest hand woven carpet in the world. It was made by approx. 200 women from Iran. It is 50 percent cotton and 50 percent silk, weighs over 12 tons, has a floral pattern of greens and pinks in the main hall and red in the women's prayer room. I wish we had a better picture of it.

This is the world's largest chandelier. It is German designed with Swarvoski Crystals from Austria. The cost is over 20 million UAE = aprox. 5.5 million dollars. There are two other slightly smaller matching chandeliers in this hall, too. All the carvings and white columns are made from white marble imported from Greece. This is also the largest mosque dome in the World.

Little better view of the carpet...

Upon entering, all women and girls about Grace's age and up need to cover their hair. There was a dressing room for visitors to borrow a robe and headress. Visitors must remove their shoes when entering the inside prayer rooms.

Peace out, y'all...

This wall faces in the direction Muslims face when praying, towards the city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. You can see on the wall 100 carved flowers; one of the 99 names for God mentioned in the Koran are engraved in the middle of each flower. Some of the names are "The Merciful", "The Giver", "The Great". There is one flower left blank that you can see situated just to the top of the large sun in the middle; the word 'Allah' is in the sun. The blank flower is the secret name for God Muslims believe will be revealed at judgement day. All the arabic script is covered in gold leaf.

The gold enclave with the lines running down is symbolic of Paradise. A land flowing with milk and honey. The leader for the call to prayer stands here. The wooden staircase is for the Iman to preach his Friday sermon.

Clock that keeps time for all the prayers of the day. It also displays the Islamic calendar and Christian calendar. At 12 years of age Muslim children are expected to participate in daily prayers.

The grand hall -breathtaking!

A view of the outside at dusk. The courtyard floors are all inlaid with colored, polished stone and mother of pearl.

This was the coolest room. The wall is smooth marble with bulging popouts of carved stone in a garden scene. Hazel loved to run along the walls touching the stems of the flowers.

Grace in the courtyard. There must have been hundreds of pillars.

A picture of our guide, Ameena, a local Emirati. Spoke good English and answered a lot of questions for us about Islam and the 'abaya', the local name for the headress Muslim women wear. The Koran states you should cover your hair and body in front of 'strange' men. Women who are made to wear full face coverings do so to honor a family or tribal tradition, it is not required by Islam.

An example of some of the mosaic and tilework in the courtyard.

Audrey outside - and some beautiful Islamic caligraphy in the background. This is the most common artwork of the Middle East.

My favorite picture of the night in the walkways surrounding the Mosque. The artwork on these pillars are incredible to see.

Me and my inmodest clothing :) Kidding. After the tour.