A Complete Guide to Visiting Grand Mosque Abu Dhabi

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Abu Dhabi is the capital city of the United Arab Emirates in the Middle East and the second most popular city after Dubai. Visiting Grand Mosque Abu Dhabi – Sheikh Zayed Mosque is the number 1 reason many people have Abu Dhabi on their bucket list as it is the most renowned landmark and one of the most Instagrammable places in Abu Dhabi.

In fact, anyone who comes to Dubai also makes time to see this marvelous beauty as it’s easy to see it during a day trip from Dubai. The sheer size and incredible craftsmanship of this mosque will surely leave you spellbound. It is literally grand in every sense and looks like a dream from Arabian Nights.

Here are some essential travel tips if you are visiting Abu Dhabi for the first time and all the possible information you will need for visiting the Grand Mosque Abu Dhabi to make sure you make the most of your visit and come prepared! Apart from visiting this mosque, there are a lot of other things to do in Abu Dhabi.

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Some Interesting Sheikh Zayed Mosque Facts

Sheikh Zayed Mosque is simply one of the best places to visit in Abu Dhabi and these facts about the mosque will surprise you which will only want you to put this mosque on top of your list.

1. It is the largest mosque in the United Arab Emirates and the third largest mosque in the world covering an area of more than 12 hectares with a capacity to accommodate nearly 40,000 worshippers at a single time.

2. The Syrian architect, Yousef Abdelky who designed this magnificent masterpiece got inspired by Persian, Mughal, and Moorish architecture.

3. Constructed between 1996 and 2007, it took more than 3,000 workers from 38 construction companies to build this stunning attraction and it took 11 years to complete with a cost of around $545 million.

4. The mosque has around 82 domes and 1192 pillars and all the columns are handcrafted.

5. The carpet inside the main prayer hall of Sheikh Zayed Mosque is the largest hand-knotted carpet in the world and is made of 70% wool and 30% cotton. It took around 8 months to design, 12 months to knot, and 2 months to transport, trim and weave the pieces together and approximately 1,200 workers turned this 5,700-square meters carpet into reality.

6. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque has a unique lighting system that resembles the phases of the moon and the light towers that depict the lunar illumination add charm to visiting the Grand Mosque Abu Dhabi.

7. Seven copper and 24-carat gold-plated chandeliers, imported from Germany are fixed inside the mosque. The largest chandelier is 10-meters in diameter and has a height of 15 meters. It is the biggest chandelier in the world and incorporates one million Swarovski crystals.

Sheikh Zayed Mosque Ticket Price

The most amazing thing about visiting the Grand Mosque Abu Dhabi is that you don’t have to pay any entrance fee and there are no tickets. Yes, you heard it right. Entry to the mosque is absolutely free so you really don’t have any reason to miss this mosque. Right?

IMPORTANT TIP: Just a little tip to help you move ahead so that you don’t need to stand in line for the registration. When you will descend through the escalator to reach the main entrance for registration to get inside, there is a board where you can scan a QR code and fill in your details online. Do it so that you don’t have to be in line to register and can go straight through the security.

The board is usually missed by people as it’s on the left side of the entrance and when it’s crowded you can’t actually see it so find the board first and then proceed. You can also fill out the form online so that you don’t have to wait in line.

Grand Mosque Abu Dhabi Timings

The opening times for the mosque are from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM from Saturday-Thursday and from 4:30 PM to 10:00 PM on Fridays. It’s best to visit the mosque on a weekday as on weekends it is extremely crowded.

If you are going to visit during Ramadan then you will have to note that the opening hours will change. On Fridays, the mosque will be closed and from Saturday till Thursday, it will be open from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. It’s always best to check the Sheikh Zayed Mosque official website for current time updates.

Best Time to Visit Sheikh Zayed Mosque

As a remarkable and Iconic landmark, the Grand Mosque captures the attention of every tourist who visits Abu Dhabi or even Dubai. With millions visiting Grand Mosque Abu Dhabi every year, there is no such thing time as the best time to have it all to yourself. Also, as it’s not open 24 hrs so you will not have the option of visiting it at sunrise.

However that being said, it’s still better to visit the mosque as soon as it opens so that there are only a few people inside and you should be the first to enter at 9:00 AM. Try to beat the crowd by reaching the mosque 15 min before it opens as it’s a long route from the main entry gate to the entrance of the mosque.

Photography Tips for Sheikh Zayed Mosque

1. If you are into photography then definitely be the first one to enter the mosque in the morning. Although the mosque is big and you will find several angles to shoot it with no one in your picture but the front of the Grand Mosque (Pictured below) is the most beautiful to shoot and it gets crowded soon in about 30mins – 1 hr after opening.

2. Visit the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque twice, once in the morning and once around 3 hrs before sunset. It will give you enough time to marvel at its beauty at different times of the day. The sunset colors make the mosque look magical.

3. Go to Wahat-Al-Karama across the road from the mosque to photograph it at the blue hour or at night. You will get the most beautiful picture ever.

4. There is a designated walkway for visitors which you must stay on, and photos and videos should only be taken in the designated photo spots. There are numerous guards throughout the mosque that will enforce these rules.

Dress Code for visiting Grand Mosque Abu Dhabi

Being a mosque and a Muslim site, the dress code is very strict. Women are required to pretty much cover from head to toe. If you want to wear your own clothing then wear something that can comply with their standards. It means full sleeves, loose-fitting covering ankles, and no skin show of any kind. You can also wear a loose top and palazzos or loose trousers.

Don’t forget to bring your headscarf too. Although this doesn’t guarantee that you won’t be given an Abaya but this is your safest bet. There are guards who would check if you are appropriately dressed or not. In case they don’t find your outfit to their standard, you will be shown to the dressing room to wear an abaya on top of it. There are 3 colors to choose from: Burgundy, nude, and light blue.

The Abaya will cover you fully only leaving your face but keep in mind that you cannot take off the hood at any time. It is disrespectful to show head or hair. You will be yelled at by the guards if they found anything disrespectful. Men are not allowed to wear shorts so trousers would be good to wear.

I highly advise coming here with an open mind and heart and being respectful of all the rules even if you don’t believe in them.

How to get to Sheikh Zayed Mosque

BY BUS

If you are staying in Abu Dhabi then the easiest way is to take a taxi from your hotel that will drop you at the visitor center. There are many great hotels near Sheikh Zayed Mosque but if you want to use public transport which is way cheaper then download the Darb app. Using the Darb app is the most convenient as Google isn’t the most accurate for bus routes and the language barrier is real as most locals speak only Arabic.

FROM DUBAI

If you are visiting Grand Mosque Abu Dhabi from Dubai on a day trip then renting a car or taking a taxi would be the best since it will save a lot of time and you will have more flexibility to see the other places in Abu Dhabi has to offer. But if you are coming here to stay for a few days then my advice is to take a bus as it’s cheap and extremely comfortable.

The bus from Dubai to Abu Dhabi departs from the Al Ghubaiba bus station. It will drop you at Abu Dhabi central station and the travel time is 2 hrs and the fare is 25 Dirham i.e $7. The bus is airconditioned with a wifi facility and they provide you with a water bottle too. What more can you ask, right?

Some More Tips for Visiting Grand Mosque Abu Dhabi

1. Bring Sunglasses

The mosque is made of pure white marble so it reflects a lot in sunlight. If you don’t want to feel uneasy by the blinding light then don’t forget to bring your sunglasses when you plan to visit.

2. Take a Guided Tour

There are daily complimentary walk-in guided tours for a duration of 45 minutes. I suggest taking one if you are interested in knowing the fascinating history and culture. The tour is in English and Arabic. You can find the current tour times on the official Grand Mosque website. But in general, the timings are as follows.

Tour Schedule:

Sunday – Thursday: 10AM / 11AM / 5PM
Friday: 5PM / 7PM
Saturday: 10AM / 11AM / 2PM / 5PM / 7PM

TIP: If you are in Abu Dhabi only for a day or even less time then taking a half-day guided city tour is the best way to save time and money. It includes a visit to the Grand Mosque, Yas Island, and many other attractions.

3. Do not Pose for Pictures

The golden rule when visiting Grand Mosque Abu Dhabi is to not pose while taking pictures and not to sit anywhere in the mosque. By pose, I mean pouting, peace signs, etc. It is considered disrespectful, so just stand normally for pictures. There are enough guards to keep an eye on you and they would make you delete the picture instantly if they find you doing anything not complying with their rules and regulations.

Also, you also can’t sit anywhere inside the mosque premises where there are carpets so be prepared to walk or stand for at least 1-2 hr while you are there. You can only sit outside near the garden area.

4. Basic Mosque Etiquettes

When visiting Grand Mosque Abu Dhabi, make sure to follow all the basic mosque etiquette as it’s a holy place for worship and people at the mosque are quite concerned with the respect of their religion and so should you.

• You are not allowed to bring food or drinks inside. There is a security scanner at the entrance.
• Tripods aren’t allowed so if you are coming alone you may need to ask a stranger for help.
• Do not hold hands inside the mosque premises or show any kind of PDA. Public display of affection is a huge disrespect and you can be shown the way out so if you are coming with your partner, pls make sure to maintain some decency.
• Make sure to put your phones on silent and do not speak loudly. It’s a very quiet place.

5. Have your breakfast before you visit

Before visiting Grand Mosque Abu Dhabi, make sure to fuel up if you don’t want to wander empty stomach and can’t live without breakfast since there is only one place, Coffee Club that serves coffee, salads, and sandwiches nearby.

Hotels Nearby Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi has no shortage of stays whether it is a luxury hotel or a budget stay. If you are looking to stay nearby Sheikh Zayed Mosque, there are a few good hotels that are worth looking into.

1. The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi is a beach resort with a view of the Grand Mosque. If you are not worried about the budget then it is worth staying here.

2. Hotel Fairmont Bab Al Bahr

3. Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri & Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri Apartments

4. Traders Hotel

Click here to find more options to stay in Abu Dhabi.

Final Thoughts

It is an absolute no-brainer that visiting Grand Mosque Abu Dhabi is a must when in UAE. This mosque is a stunning masterpiece that shouldn’t be missed. If you are tight on time or only have a stopover in Abu Dhabi then also it’s easy to visit the mosque depending on how much you have. Since it’s an easy day trip from Dubai as well, there is no reason to miss it.

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Interested in knowing more about UAE? Don’t miss these posts.

• 15 Most Instagrammable Places in Dubai

• 7 Most Amazing Instagrammable Places in Abu Dhabi

• Best Things to do in Abu Dhabi

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