Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

The mosque

The mosque was built between 1994 and 2007 and is the largest in the country

The Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi was constructed between 1994 and 2007 and inaugurated in December 2007. It is the largest mosque in the United Arab Emirates. The complex measures approximately 290 by 420 m.

290 by 420 mapproximate size of the building complex

The vision

Sheikh Zayed wanted a building that united the diversity of the Islamic world

The project was launched by Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who wanted a structure that would unite the cultural diversity of the Islamic world with the historical and modern values of architecture and art. He is buried in the courtyard.

The design

The mosque has 82 domes and more than 1,000 columns

The mosque features 82 domes, more than 1,000 columns, 24-carat-gold gilded chandeliers and the world's largest hand-knotted carpet. Its dome layout and floorplan were inspired by the Badshahi Mosque in Lahore.

82domes on the mosque

The carpet

The carpet took around 1,200 knotters about two years

The carpet in the hall is considered by many to be the world's largest. It measures 5,627 m2 and was made by around 1,200 to 1,300 knotters. It has 2,268,000,000 knots and took approximately two years to complete.

2,268,000,000knots in the carpet

The courtyard

The courtyard holds the largest marble mosaic in the world

Four minarets rise about 107 m at the corners of the courtyard. Its floral design measures about 17,000 m2 and is considered the largest example of marble mosaic in the world. The British artist Kevin Dean designed the flower mosaics.