Money and Design Impress: The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

by Paddy Johnson on November 7, 2014 · 2 comments slideshow

All photos: Paddy Johnson

All photos: Paddy Johnson

During my trip to Abu Dhabi Art, I took a bit off the art fair beat to take a look at one of Abu Dhabi’s more well known cultural attractions: Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Constructed between 1996 and 2007, the mosque is the largest in United Emirates, and the 8th largest in the world. It can accommodate up to 40,000 worshippers.

Size is only one impressive aspect of the building. Other stats include, chandeliers made with swarovski, the dome roof tops embellished with pure gold steeples, and a carpet so large it had to be flown in.  Basically, everything in this mosque cost a shit ton of money.

That’s surely meant to impress but perhaps more the altruistic motivations for The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque’s design and construction are that it intends to “unite the world“. It used artisans and materials from many countries including Italy, Germany, Morocco, Pakistan, India, Turkey, Malaysia, Iran, China, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Greece and United Arab Emirates.” 

I took a tour of the mosque and can report that the building is truly awe inspiring. Those who visit Abu Dhabi must see the mosque. A few photos from my trip below.

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{ 2 comments }

Nikolay Mirchev November 7, 2014 at 7:39 pm

Amazing architecture. This place is like a photography paradise, especially when there is a religion event taking place.

Paddy Johnson November 10, 2014 at 11:52 am

It’s impossible to take a bad picture.

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