gulfnews.com | Tuesday, November 22, 2016 | Gulf News
com
A14
SHAIKH ZAYED GRAND MOSQUE
A global
landmark
This beautiful mosque is the
largest in the UAE and the eighth
largest in the world. The stunning
detail in its minarets, domes and
columns make this structure a
work of art
Al Bateen Airport
ABU DHABI
Al K
hale
ej Al
A ra b
i St
N a ffa h
600m
Lunar illumination
A unique lighting system designed to reflect the phases of the moon. Light towers
project soft bluish-grey clouds onto the white marble surface of the mosque. The
effect appears different every day as the moon progresses through its cycle.
Day 1 Day 7
Columns
More than 1,000 marble-clad
hexagonal columns are inlaid
with interlocking floral
designs and semi-precious
stones. These columns also
boast of azorite, red jasper
and violet amethyst.
Palm-inspired column
crowns made of golden
oxidised aluminium
A multitude of worshippers
There are three prayer halls inside the mosque. The main prayer hall can accommo-
date 7,800 worshippers standing in rows and facing towards Qibla wall. Muslims can
also pray in the open Sahan area or the courtyard which can hold more than 20,000.
= 1,000 worshippers
During peak times, SZGM can accommodate a total of 40,960 worshippers
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Minarets Domes Chandelier
These marble-clad There are 82 domes of 7 different sizes, all inspired by Moghul and There are seven crystal chandeliers inside the mosque, three in the main
monuments stand tall at Moroccan Islamic architectural styles. The biggest dome is located prayer hall with the largest one at the centre. Designed by Germany’s Vostygan
four corners in the courtyard, in the centre of the main prayer hall. factory, these chandeliers are made of gilded stainless steel with galvanised
providing a high place for 24-carat gold used in gilding.
muezzin to call for prayer, or Round dome inspired The crown of smaller, onion-shaped domes, Glittering Swarovski Main rod holding chandelier’s
Main entrance adhan. A unified adhan is finials and crescent moon is covered with weight of 12 tonnes
from Fatimid era capped crystals envelop the
The Shaikh Zayed Grand Mosque broadcast from the Grand with the golden crescent Italian gold glass chandeliers, with balls of
ranked 2nd among the world’s top Mosque’s minarets to all green, red and yellow
landmarks in 2014. Thousands of mosques in Abu Dhabi. 35m Macedonian Saivak lighting up the prayer hall
11m visitors enter mainly through the marble wraps the
approx. marble-clad arch daily, which is 107 metres Cylindrical upper part derived domes’ exterior 15.5m Height of
one of five entrances. from tip to base from the Ottoman era chandelier
equivalent
to a 5-storey
Library
The world’s first library inside a
85 metres
from tip to base
10m building
Square base conceived
minaret houses a world-class
collection of about 7,700 books
from Mamluk style with varied subjects ranging
from Islamic culture to gardens.
15,500
LEDs used for the
40,000,000
Number of crystal pieces used
largest chandelier for all chandeliers distributed
in the mosque
Location Qibla wall and Mihrab
Al A i n The Grand Mosque
Abu Dhabi - Rd can be easily accessed
This wall bears Allah's 99 names written in
Fatimid Kufic script. It is illuminated using
as it is situated at the
dimly lit optical fibres. The Mihrab is
The Grand Mosque entrance of Abu Dhabi.
painted gold, covered with gilded foil and
It is built on an
stained glass. The design inspiration is
elevation of 9 metres
Rivers of milk and honey.
from ground level and
towers over most
surrounding
structures, making it a
TO DUBAI
Mus can’t-miss landmark.
Brid
ge
Overall site dimension: 1000m x 500m
One of 22 light
towers surrounding Main
entrance
the mosque
Clock and prayer times
An important aspect of Islamic culture is the
clock which determines prayer times. There
Day 15 Day 21 Day 30 The Courtyard
are 11 clocks inside Shaikh Zayed Grand Minbar
Mosque. They are all manufactured in Britain
This open area at the centre Prophet Mohammad
and made of stainless steel decorated with
is decked with thousands of (PBUH) stood on a Minbar
shells. The clock’s electronic displays show
pieces of white marble with to preach. SZGM’s Minbar
the day’s prayer times.
floral formations conceived is a kind of platform made
Verses derived from from Kevin Deen paintings from cedar wood with
the Quran are written on the outer boundaries. elegant flower carvings
in Arabic calligraphy. This space is considered crafted with shells and
They decorate the the world’s largest artistic white glass.
inner side of the mosaic work.
domes
17,400 sqm
Area of the courtyard
The female ablution
area is adorned with
ceramic plants,
Entrances to the main Built by the world
prayer hall are huge sliding
mosaics and The foundation stone was laid on November 5, 1996. Artisans and materials
doors. The biggest one
fountains were sourced from around the world, among them prominent suppliers
measures 12.2m (W) x
7.05m (H) and weighs 2.2
Reflecting pools tonnes Greece Turkey
3,000+
Water plays a significant part in the desert Labourers hired
Italy Iran
and the Shaikh Zayed Grand Mosque is to work on
surrounded by reflective pools which are
Carpet Germany Pakistan
SZGM
UK China
coated with varying shades of blue. 7,874 sqm This is the world’s largest carpet, covering 5,400
Looking at the pools from different angles Areas covered with water sqm and weighing 35 tonnes. It is made of 70 38
give different reflections of the mosque’s signifying life flowing in per cent New Zealand wool and 30 per cent International
columns, minarets and domes. This is and around the structure Honouring the UAE’s father wool and cotton mix. The design is derived from companies
the Islamic medallion style, woven by 1200 Morocco Malaysia
particularly spectacular at night with the The mausoleum of Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan contracted
artisans in 12 months. The carpet is so massive UAE New Zealand
lunar lighting providing more drama and Al Nahyan, which he planned in the late 1980s, for the project
atmosphere. The mosque’s gardens extend is just outside the great monument. Today, it it had to be shipped in nine pieces and hand-
from these pools. bears his name. stitched together again inside the mosque.
Dwynn Trazo, Luis Vazquez, Ramachandra Babu/©Gulf News
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