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Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Street, Abu Dhabi

When you enter Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, you will understand why it is such a special place. Here, people from all walks of life come together to take in the architecture's beauty and gain a deeper understanding of religion and culture in the United Arab Emirates. The mosque is one of the world's largest and was the vision of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan - the Founding Father of the UAE. He envisaged the creation of a welcoming and cultural haven that inspires people from all backgrounds.

Even the construction was a cultural collaboration. The grand structure was designed and built by skilled teams from all over the world, including 1,300 Iranian artisans who hand-knotted the main prayer hall's carpet - the world's largest.

On your journey through the marbled halls, you'll see one-of-a-kind treasures, including gold-plated Swarovski chandeliers, the courtyard's vast marble mosaic artwork and reflective pools that mirror some of the many amethyst-and-jasper-embedded columns. When you're outside, look up to see the mosque's four stunning minarets that proudly stand at 106 metres.

You’ll be overwhelmed not just by the architecture but by how welcoming the mosque feels. The open-door policy encourages visitors from around the world, from families to groups, solo travellers to congregations, to not only witness its beauty but also gain a deeper understanding of the Emirate’s culture of open dialogue.

Remember, as well as welcoming visitors to admire the architecture; the building is still an active mosque that welcomes up to 50,000 worshippers daily. Bear this in mind when planning your visit. Respectful clothing is a requirement for visitors to enter Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, and on Fridays, the main prayer hall is closed to visitors between 12 pm and 3 pm as Friday prayers take place.

Past visitors will encourage you to take one of the free guided tours. Experts will guide your eyes and ears to details some may usually miss, like the gold-leaf calligraphy which encircles the hollows of the mosque’s remarkable 82 domes.

Make a second trip to Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque when the sun goes down to witness the whole facade light up with even more majesty. Combining your evening trip with a visit to the poignant Wahat Al Karama memorial and dinner in the Al Qana district is highly recommended.

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Frequently asked questions about Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.

When is the best time to go to grand mosque in abu dhabi.

The mosque is a fantastic place to visit no matter when you arrive; however, dusk is particularly special. The fading sunlight bounces off the white facade to create a beautiful glow, and after the sunset, you can witness the majesty of the building as it becomes illuminated by lights.

Are there guided tours at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque?

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque's free guided tours, in Arabic and English, are the best way to get the most from your visit.

What is the dress code for the Grand Mosque?

Visitors to Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque must follow a specific dress code as a sign of respect. Visitors must cover their shoulders and knees before entry. Women must wear abayas.

Is there an entry fee to Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in the UAE?

There is no fee to enter Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. For ease of entry, book their visit via Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosques’ website .

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Grand Mosque Abu Dhabi Timings & Opening Hours All Details

November 17, 2022 | 13 min read

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque opens its doors to visitors during visiting hours and is situated in Abu Dhabi, UAE's capital city. The Mosque is the largest in the UAE, and every day, worshippers congregate for prayers at this Mosque from different parts of the world.

The Grand mosque construction started in 1996 and ended in 2007. The Mosque was named Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the name of the UAE's first president, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The president died in 2004, and even though the mosque construction was not complete, he was buried in the mosque premises.

Several architectural designs were adopted during the building of this Mosque, making it unique and exotic. It is the Mosque with the largest carpet in the world, measuring 60,570 square feet, a chandelier, and its size to host more than 40 000 worshippers for prayers. All these features, among others, make the Grand mosque stand out as the world's biggest and most unique architectural design. Grand Mosque stands are the most visited Mosque in UAE all year. Some come for prayers; whiles others come to see the world's largest Mosque.

The main master minder of the Grand Mosque was architect Yousef Abdelky, but there were other more than 3000 workers. Also, 38 construction companies were hired during its 12 years of construction, and the total cost to build Grand Mosque is said to be 2 billion dollars.

The designers of the Grand Mosque were inspired by several other mosques from various regions, such as Persian and Mughal mosques, Abu Al-Abbas Al-Muris Mosque in Egypt, and Badshashi mosque in Lahore, Pakistan.

During stylizing of the Grand Mosque, it was inlaid with 82 white marble domes, 96 inside columns decorated with jewels, 1,096 outside columns, and Swarovski Crystal Chandeliers sculpted in 24-carat gold. More so, there is a water pool.

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Sheikh zayed grand mosque abu dhabi timings, grand mosque entry fee.

The Sheikh Zayed Mosque's doors are always open to everyone, just like in every Mosque. Visitor hours at the Sheikh Zayed Mosque are from 9 am to 10 pm.

The last person is allowed to enter the Mosque 30 minutes before the Sheikh Zayed Mosque's closure time. There are exceptions on Friday, a day set apart for worship, and Mosque is open for visiting from 4:30 pm to 10 pm. At certain times during the day, they allow a one-hour tour.

Time of Sheikh Zayed mosque entry Sheikh Zayed Mosque's opening and closing times

There are no tickets required for you to enter the Grand Mosque. It is free to visit Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi like it is free to visit any other payer hall or Mosque.

You can join worshippers at the Mosque during the daily five-time mandatory prayers.

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The Travel Sisters

Tips for visiting the sheikh zayed grand mosque in abu dhabi.

by The Travel Sisters | Dec 14, 2022 | Destinations , Trip Reports | 4 comments

1. The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is free to visit.

Admission to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is free. Guided tours are also free.

2. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque visiting hours.

Normal visiting hours are 9 am to 10 pm (last admission 09:30 pm) on Saturday – Thursday. On Fridays, the mosque is open from 9:00am to 12:00pm (last admission 1:30 am) and reopens from 3:00 pm. to 10:00 pm (last admission 09:30 pm).

Visiting hours are different during the month of Ramadan so make sure to check the official website if visiting at that time.

3. Take a free guided tour.

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque offers free cultural tours tours at designated times. Tours are led by official SZGMC Guides who take visitors around the mosque explaining various elements of the architecture and Islamic culture and answer any questions. 

Tours run for approximately 30 and 45 minutes. You don’t have to register for the tour in advance just show up at the starting point of the tour. Here is the link to the mosque’s official website for the current tour schedule. There is also a sign posted at the mosque that lists the time of the next tour.

I recommend taking the tour if your timing allows. In addition to learning interesting facts about the mosque, the tour allows you to visit parts of the mosque not open to the general public.

On my tour we were allowed to walk on the carpet inside the Main Prayer Hall while other visitors were not allowed inside.

4. There is a strict dress code.

Visitors are expected to adhere to the dress code which is posted at the mosque and on the mosque’s official website and is strictly enforced.

Women must wear long loose fitting trousers, dresses or skirts as well as long sleeves and a headscarf. Men must wear pants and cannot wear shorts or sleeveless shirts.

Before COVID-19, the mosque used to lend women abayas (traditional attire for women that looks like a long robe), but that is no longer the case. There is a store you will pass by on the way to the mosque where you can purchase an abaya if you are not properly covered up.

Visitors do not have to remove shoes to walk around on the outside grounds of the mosque. Shoes are not allowed inside the mosque (which is not open to the public unless you are on a guided tour).

5. Bring sunglasses.

Unless you are visiting the Grand Mosque after sunset, make sure to bring sunglasses. Abu Dhabi is very sunny in general but at the mosque the sun reflects off the white marble making it especially bright.

6. Allow sufficient time for the long walk through the visitor center to the mosque.

If you previously visited the mosque several years ago, you will see a big difference when you return.  There is now a new visitor center that you will have walk through to reach the mosque from the entrance.

To get to the mosque, you will enter through a glass dome, take an escalator down and then walk through a long underground passageway to another glass dome where you go up the escalator and exit near the mosque grounds. Towards the end of the passageway, you will need to print a ticket from one of the kiosks and show it to security and go through the metal detectors. The underground visitor center also has several restaurants and a souvenir shop.

The underground passageway requires a long walk (so wear comfortable shoes).  You can expect that it will take you at least 10-15 minutes to walk through and reach the mosque from the entrance depending how fast you walk and how crowded it is. Keep this in mind and allow sufficient walking time if you are trying to reach the mosque in time for a tour or the sunset. If you have difficulty walking, there are several airport style people movers to help you along and also carts available as well.

7. Food and drink is not allowed on mosque grounds.

Visitors are not allowed to bring food or beverages (even water) to the mosque to ensure the mosque (particularly the delicate marble and carpet) is not damaged.

There are water fountains on the mosque grounds so you don’t have to worry about getting dehydrated during your visit.

If you need to eat before or after your visit, several restaurants (including large chains such as Starbucks and McDonalds, etc.) are located in the underground passage way that connects the mosque to the entrance.

8. Follow the rules and be respectful.

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is not just a tourist attraction – it is an active place of worship so be respectful and follow the rules. In addition to abiding by the dress code, don’t yell, make gestures, sit or lie on the ground or take disrespectful photos. Rihanna was asked to leave the mosque in 2013 for taking inappropriate photos.

You will see plenty of security guards that walk around the grounds enforcing the rules, giving warnings and preventing visitors from visiting restricted areas.

Below is a photo of the sign with the mosque rules.

9. What is the best time to visit the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque?

I would recommend visiting either first thing in the morning right after the mosque opens OR before sunset. Avoid the middle of the day since it can get very hot and the lighting will probably not be as great for photos.

When researching my trip, I read that the golden hour before sunset was one of the best times to visit the mosque for photography because you can take photos of the mosque when the light is soft and you can stick around to take photos during the sunset and in the evening. I also read that the morning right after the mosque opens at 9 am was a good time to visit because it is less crowded and the temperature was not as hot.

I was not sure which time to go so I ended visiting twice – the first time before sunset and the second time in the morning. I thought both times were good for different reasons.

Visiting the Mosque Around Sunset. While the lighting was good before sunset and the mosque was beautiful around sunset, it was very very crowded with tourists. (Parts of the mosque are roped off to visitors including the courtyard in front of the mosque, so you can take photos from behind the rope with no other people in your photos.)

I did not get a chance to take many photos during the golden hour before sunset because I chose to join a tour and was inside the mosque for part of that time. Below are a couple of photos of the mosque taken around sunset.

Visiting the Mosque In the Morning. We also briefly stopped by the mosque again right after it opened at 9am the next morning and the mosque was significantly less crowded. The mosque was beautiful in the morning because the marble looked really white against the very blue sky. Although it was sunny, the temperature did not feel as hot as it did around sunset. Below are a couple of photos of the mosque in the morning:

As you can see the mosque looks different depending what time of the day you visit. Since it is free to visit, if you have time you can visit both in the morning and around sunset if you have the time.

10. Getting to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

From Abu Dhabi: The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is located in Abu Dhabi about halfway between the Abu Dhabi Airport and the Corniche. If you are staying in Abu Dhabi you can take a bus, taxi, Uber or Careem . Please note that Uber and Careem are more expensive than taxis. If you take a taxi to the mosque you don’t have to worry about finding another taxi when leaving the mosque, there are plenty of taxis waiting in the parking lot.

From Dubai: You can also visit the mosque if you are staying in Dubai and many tourists do. The cheapest way to visit from Dubai is to take the bus and transfer to a local bus – but it will take at least twice as long as driving.

The mosque is approximately a 60-90 minute drive from Dubai and you can either rent a car , take a taxi (approximate cost is $55-75 USD one way according to rome2rio ) or rideshare or book a private transfer .

For 1 or 2 people a guided day tour might be a better value than a taxi plus you can visit a few other attractions in Abu Dhabi. Below are a few day tours from Dubai that visit the mosque:

Hopefully these tips have prepared you to visit the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi and you know what to expect.

The Sheikh Zayed Mosque is gorgeous! I can’t wait to visit this place in the future. I’m thrilled to hear that this mosque has free admission and free guided tours too. You mentioned that food and drinks are not allowed on the mosque. Can you bring an unopened bottle of water? Or is there a spot to leave it near the entrance?

I have not yet been to the UAE, but am planning a trip to Abu Dhabi for February. This mosque is on my list for sure.

I don’t have Abu Dhabi on my radar just yet in terms of travel, but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t. That’s an incredible mosque!

I love visiting mosques. They are so beautiful and ornate. That’s cool that you don’t have to have a tour reserved and that you can just show up to take one. Also really cool that they take you to parts that aren’t open to the public. Definitely a reason to take a tour right there. That Main Prayer Hall is just wow!! It’s also really cool that they will lend you appropriate clothing to wear if you aren’t dressed appropriately. I don’t think the mosques I’ve been in had that option. I definitely agree with the sunglasses. I had mine on but I can only imagine if I hadn’t. I would definitely want to visit Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque when I get to visit Abu Dhabi!

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Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque now open for 24 hours as night tours are launched

More opportunities for travelers in transit who wish to see renowned landmark but do not have much time.

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque will now be open to visit 24 hours a day. Victor Besa / The National

Visitors to Abu Dhabi can now explore the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque at any time of the day.

The mosque has launched night tours targeted at travellers in transit who have limited time in the capital but wish to visit the landmark at their convenience.

During what are being called the mosque's new Sura Evening Cultural Tours, participants “will discover hidden gems within the mosque that they may have never seen before, such as witnessing the maintenance and cleaning works,” reads a message on the attraction's website.

More than 60,000 worshippers attend Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi to mark Laylat Al Qadr. All photos: Wam

The night tours also come with multimedia guide devices, available in 14 international languages, including options for the visually impaired and the deaf. The tours are available for groups of up to 20 people and cost Dh20 per visitor.

Visiting the mosque during regular opening hours, from 9am to 9.30pm, is still free of charge, although pre-registration is required.

Completed in 2007, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is the largest of its kind in the UAE, spreading across 22,000 square metres. It can host more than 40,000 worshippers at once. Besides its religious significance, it highlights the legacy of the UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and commemorates his values, memory, qualities and contributions to humanity.

One of the UAE's most popular sites , more than 3 million tourists and residents visited the mosque during the first six months of 2023 – a 127 per cent in increase on the previous year.

The mosque has also hosted many visits from heads of states and official foreign delegations. In 2007, the then Prince Charles and Camilla toured the site and in 2010 the late Queen Elizabeth II visited and paid her respects at the tomb of Sheikh Zayed. Prince Charles made the trip again in 2016 .

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