TOP THINGS TO DO IN ABU DHABI ON HOLIDAYS (1)

SHEIKH ZAYED GRAND MOSQUE, ABU DHABI

The majestic Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is probably the most imposing religious and national landmark in Abu Dhabi to date. It is also arguably one of the most important architectural treasures of contemporary UAE society - and one of the most beautiful in the world - initiated no less by the late president HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who is fondly thought of as the father of the UAE.

First considerations to build the Mosque began in the late 1980s and much thought was given to its location and its design over the next decade. The initial architectural design was agreed upon and the inaugural cornerstone laid in the late 1990s.

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, popularly called the Grand Mosque by local residents, is seen as a construction to ‘unite the world’, using artisans and materials from countries such as Italy, Germany, Morocco, India, Turkey, Iran, China, Greece and the UAE. More than 3,000 workers and 38 renowned contracting companies took part in the construction of the Mosque.

The massive religious structure was named after the late president of the UAE.

The Mosque’s initial architectural design was Moroccan, but it evolved to include many global features, including exterior walls that are of traditional Turkish design. Natural materials were chosen for its design and construction due to their long-lasting qualities, including marble, stone, gold, semi-precious stones, crystals and ceramics.

The 22,412 square metre Mosque site is equivalent to around the size of five football fields, and can accommodate 40,960 worshippers – 7,126 in the main prayer hall; 1,960 in the open prayer hall; 980 female worshippers in the open prayer hall female section; 22, 729 in the open Sahan (courtyard); 682 in the main prayer hall entrance and 784 in the mosque’s main hall entrance.

Designed by Iranian artist Ali Qaliqi and featuring a 115-metre high minaret, 1,084 columns and 82 domes covered with gold, the mosque took 12 years to complete at a cost of Dh2.167 billion and opened during Ramadan in 2007. It covers 22,000 square metres (five football fields) and can hold up to 40,000 worshippers.

DRESS AND BEHAVIOUR CODE

We kindly ask all visitors to respect our religion and place of prayer by following these simple requests: Visitors must be dressed appropriately on arrival; if not, entry will be denied

- Modest, conservative, loose fitting clothing; long sleeves, long skirts and trousers
- No transparent (see-through) clothing
- No shorts for men
- No shorts and skirts must be ankle length
- No tight clothing, no swimwear and no beachwear.
- Shoes will be removed before entering the mosque, so we recommend slip off shoes
- Headscarf for ladies is essential (these can be provided when you arrive)
- Intimate behaviour; i.e. holding hands or kissing is not acceptable in a Muslim place of worship
- For safety and respect to worshippers, visitors should stay within the areas of the mosque that are permitted and not roam freely around. Smoking and food are not allowed in the mosque area
- Visitors are requested not to touch the Holy Quran (Holy Book) and other architectural elements inside the main prayer hall





Daily Tour Schedule (Valid until 31st December 2010)
DAY / MORNING TOUR / AFTERNOON TOUR
Sunday 10am ,11am / 5pm
Monday 10am ,11am / 5pm
Tuesday 10am ,11am / 5pm
Wednesday 10am ,11am / 5pm
Thursday 10am ,11am / 5pm
Friday Please note that Friday mornings are strictly for worshippers only / 2pm,5pm,8pm
Saturday 10am ,11am / 2pm,5pm,8pm

All private bookings and VIP bookings are to be made by sending an email to tour@szgmc.ae

For groups with less than 10 persons no pre-booking necessary

Other general information
Duration – 60 minutes
Complimentary - Entrance and mosque tour
Maximum tour group size recommended - 30 persons
Groups with less than 10 persons do not need to make advance booking and may join in the Public Tour conducted daily

For general enquiries please call: Tel: 800 555

Self Tour Information You can visit on your own in the mornings from Saturday through to Thursday (from 9.00am to 12.00 noon)

DIRECTIONS
Self Drive: Driving is the best way to visit the mosque and there are plenty of car parks available.
Public Entrance (North) car park is currently found at the Airport Road side of the mosque.
Taxi: You can take a taxi to the mosque.
Once you arrive it is recommended that you ask the taxi driver to wait for you, as it is difficult to find a taxi for your return trip.

Other considerations
Children are to be supervised. The area around the mosque is still under construction and personal safety must be observed at all times. Currently there are no amenities or special services for the elderly or special needs visitors.

Enjoy your visit!