Visit one of the wonders of the world on your Abu Dhabi Bus Tour
Why not start your bus tour on a high? The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is the jewel in Abu Dhabi’s crown. It’s fair to say this is one of the most important pieces of architecture in the Emirates. And one of the most beautiful mosques in the world.
The Mosque is crucial to the culture of Abu Dhabi, so no expense has been spared in its design and construction. Everywhere you look you’ll see white marble, inlaid with elaborate floral designs. Check out the interior walls too, which feature stunning gold glass mosaics. Make sure to hop off your tour when there are guided walks available. The Mosque is normally closed on Fridays.
A place of reflection
The Mosque’s vast courtyard covers 17,000 square metres (56,000 square feet), and is decorated with white marble imported from Greece. To add to the serenity, the building is surrounded by tiled pools, which means every stunning façade is reflected. That makes for double the beauty.
A magical carpet
The main prayer hall is home to the world’s biggest hand-made carpet. The design is based on a traditional intricate Islamic medallion and it took around two years to make. Over 1,200 people were involved in designing and hand-knotting the carpet. Once the pieces were woven together the carpet covered an incredible 5,700 square metres (18,700 square feet).
Other interesting facts about Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque:
- The main prayer hall can accommodate more than 7,000 worshippers
- The hall features the world’s largest chandelier, which is 15 metres (49 feet) high
- There are 82 domes and 1,000 marble columns, each inlaid with semi-precious stones
- During Eid the Mosque can be visited by over 41,000 people
Tips for visiting Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque:
- It's easy to visit Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque with Big Bus Tours - we stop just outside the main entrance.
- Visitors must follow a modest dress code as abayas and khandouras are no longer available to hire at the mosque. Transparent, tight or revealing clothing is not permitted. Ladies must wear either long skirts, dresses or trousers, as well as long sleeves and a head scarf. Men must wear long trousers - shorts and sleeveless tops are not permitted. Visitors who do not follow the dress code will be refused entry.
- The mosque is free to enter. General visiting times are Saturday-Thursday, 09:00 - 22:00. The mosque is closed to tourists (but open to worshippers) on Friday mornings. It reopens for tourists after 16:00. During the month of Ramadan, you can visit between 09:00 - 14:00, but the mosque is closed all day on Friday.
- There are a variety of free tours each day, availability is on a walk-in basis. Look for the desk near the east tourist entrance for up-to-date times.
- Give yourself at least 3 hours to explore the mosque.
- Time your visit for late afternoon and enjoy the magnificent contrasts of the sunset against the white marble of the minarets. Stay long enough to watch the mosque become illuminated against the dusk and hear the call to prayer.
