Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with a focus on massive oil experts, would not necessarily be a typical holiday travel destination. I would also not spend my entire one-week holiday in the city. But I had two big reasons for wanting to visit, one of which was the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. (The other reason was Louvre Abu Dhabi.) So I flew there from Singapore for a long weekend.
What makes the modern mosque fascinating? It’s living art.
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque has been a must-visit landmark in the city since 2007. It’s renowned for its huge architectural works and beauty – it comprises 82 domes, more than 1,000 columns, 12 tons of Swarovski chandeliers, and the world’s largest hand-woven carpet. But I wanted to go there for something other than those great features.
I’ve been fascinated by Islamic Art ever since I went traveling in the Middle-East in my early 20s. I found a mosque full of Islamic Art, which was extremely beautiful. It’s also one of the few forms of religious art that continues to evolve today. Imagine some of the Buddhist temples or churches that you’ve visited in the past. In many cases, the key features of those buildings belonging to a specific religion would have remained virtually unchanged for generations, with older buildings considered to be of greater value. But mosques are different. I can just feel the vibe and power of evolving art when I visit a mosque – it’s a piece of living art. And it evolves through refinement. Its beauty lies in the way it is simple, sophisticated and elegant, not glitzy or gaudy. I really like it.
A fusion of all beauty, yet simple and beautiful
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is a fusion of Islamic Art from many different ages and cultures. For example, the four minarets in the courtyard are in contrasting styles – the 1st square section reflects the Moroccan, Andalusian and Mameluke styles; the 2nd octagonal section is in the Mamluk style; the 3rd cylindrical section reflects the Ottoman style, while the top lantern, with its gold-glass mosaic, goes back to the Fatimid era. All of these are gracefully blended into one expression of beauty.
Walking along the corridors, you also sense the direct influence of the Taj Mahal in India reflected in the columns.
The prayer halls are another highlight of the masterpiece
First, the chandeliers are the most luxurious, with the largest being 10m in diameter, 15m in height, and weighing 12 tons. However, other smaller chandeliers in the entrance areas were my favorite. They are simple and beautiful, featuring a blue-colored design and weighing 2-8 tonnes! Second, the mosque contains the world’s largest hand-woven carpet. It’s said to have taken 1,200 women two years to complete.
Visit in the evening and see the illuminated view
The mosque is illuminated in the evening, and revealing another view. Personally, I enjoyed visiting during the daytime, but the view at night is also worth seeing.
Access: It’s a 5-20 minute taxi ride from the city central.
How long to spend there: 1-2 hours. It’s highly recommended to visit both in daytime and at night.
Activity keywords: Mosque, Islamic art