Abu Dhabi’s Grand Mosque:

Unique fusion of religion, art and architecture

Text and pix: Pramod de Silva

The Abu Dhabi Grand Mosque Centre was established by decree number 18 of 2008 issued by Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of UAE, Minister of Presidential Affairs. According to SZGMC officials, the Centre emphasizes on the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan’s noble deeds and contributions to humanity, in a way that commemorates his legacy and memory

If you travel from Dubai to Abu Dhabi by bus or car, as you enter the city your eyes will be mesmerized by one outstandingly beautiful structure - the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center (SZGMC) with its immaculately white exterior contrasting with the gold designs on the minarets. It is named after Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founder of United Arab Emirates.

A functioning place of worship, it is also the leading tourist attraction in Abu Dhabi, one of the even emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It is also one of the biggest mosques in the world. Anyone can walk into the mosque regardless of religion during the official opening hours (Saturday-Thursday 9am to 10pm), but decent attire is essential. All females must wear head scarves.

Humanity

It was established by decree number 18 of 2008 issued by Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of UAE, Minister of Presidential Affairs. According to SZGMC officials, the Centre Emphasizes on the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan’s noble deeds and contributions to humanity, in a way that commemorates his legacy and memory. It has already become a masterpiece of Islamic architecture, which encourages international visitors and residents to visit for educational and tourism purposes.

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan the first President of the UAE and the ruler of Abu Dhabi, was born in 1918 in the city of Al Ain. He was named after his grandfather Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan who ruled Abu Dhabi from 1855 to 1909. In his youth, Zayed had a keen interest in the history of the Arabian Peninsula. In the Arabian Desert, Zayed learned courage and chivalry. The experience that Sheikh Zayed had growing up in a harsh desert environment had a tremendous impact on shaping his exceptional personality. He was known for his patience, insightfulness and optimism but the central trait of his personality was wisdom. In 1946, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan became the Ruler’s Representative of Al Ain city. On August 6, 1966, Sheikh Zayed became the ruler of Abu Dhabi. On December 2, 1971, Sheikh Zayed was elected as President of the UAE. Initially, he signed an agreement to establish a federation between Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Shortly afterwards a federation of seven Emirates was established.

Mausoleum

Sheikh Zayed passed away on November 2, 2004 to be succeeded by his son Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan as the president of the UAE and the ruler of Abu Dhabi. The mausoleum of the late Sheikh Zayed is located beside the mosque on the north side, though this is shown only to invited visitors such as heads of state.

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque sits majestically at the entrance to Abu Dhabi City Island, distinctly visible from the three main bridges connecting the island to the main land, the Maqta, Mussafah and the Sheikh Zayed Bridges. According to one of the Imams at the mosque, “the strategic geographical location of the Mosque is a symbolic expression of the emotional connection the Mosque has in the hearts of all UAE citizens particularly because the burial place of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, first President of the UAE, is located beside the mosque”. The Grand Mosque is clad with SIVEC marble from Macedonia. Every artistic design element was carefully considered and fits into the overall vision of the Mosque. Combining Mamluk, Ottoman and Fatimid styles, the design of the minarets fuse the wide and diverse Islamic world into one heartfelt expression of simple art and beauty.

Masterpiece

Moreover, the colours of the walls, columns and the carpet are harmonized together transforming the entire Mosque into an artistic masterpiece and a symphony of colors and shades. Using modern techniques of artistic glass work, mosaic, carved and sand blasted glass are used to display traditional Islamic designs of symmetry and repetition.

The mosque has 82 domes of various sizes and the largest is located in the centre of the main prayer hall. The design elements include pure white marble cladding; onion shaped ‘crowns’ and crescent shaped finials decorated with gold-glass mosaic. The elongated windows allow the natural light to enter the prayer halls. I entered the mosque at mid-day when the temperature read a staggering 47 Celsius, but inside the mosque, even in the public areas that had no air-conditioning, it was a world away from the harsh sun and heat outside.

The inside of the domes feature traditional Moroccan artwork which has been made from reinforced plaster called GRG. Encircling the inside of the domes are verses from the Holy Quran which are also molded from GRG and painted in gold colour.There are also fourteen green glass domes incorporated into the roof of the underground male and female ablution facilities. They are visible above ground and are an important feature of the Mosque’s Islamic garden design.

The Grand Mosque is also well known for a unique lighting system perhaps found nowhere else in the world. It is designed to reflect the phases of the moon. Soft undulating clouds of a bluish gray colour are projected onto the white marble external surfaces of the mosque including the façade and domes. Each day appears a little different from the next as the lighting cycle commences with darker clouds when the month is in its early stages and the moon is a small crescent. As the moon progresses through its cycle and becomes full, the lighting effect becomes more brilliant. There are twenty-two light towers consisting of an efficient number of light projectors to achieve this extraordinary creative effect.

The main prayer hall also houses the world’s largest hand-knotted carpet at 5,700 square meters. The intricate Islamic medallion design was made by third generation carpet maker and artist, Dr. Ali Khaliqi. The predominantly wool carpet was hand-crafted by approximately 1,200 artisans for a period of two years.

Versions

There are seven crystal chandeliers made by Faustig (Munich, Germany) situated inside the halls and foyers. The largest (located in the main prayer hall and considered one of the world’s largest in a mosque) weighing an astonishing 12 tons.

Two smaller versions of the same design (located also in the main prayer hall) weigh an equally impressive eight tons each. All chandeliers are made from gilded stainless steel and gilded. Glass panels studded with Swarovski crystals have been installed in all of them.If you visit Abu Dhabi, this is a must-see structure and even if you are visiting Dubai, make it a point to visit this architectural and cultural marvel, just 100 minutes by bus or car from Dubai.