Abu Dhabi, UAE independent tour with Venu, Elsie, Ardan, Cleonne, Woodye, Fran, Doug and Edith.
We left the ship in Dubai about 8:00 AM and arrived in Abu Dhabi between 9:30 and 10:00
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque was amazingly beautiful. The dome layout and the floor plan were patterned after the Badshahi Mosque. The archways are Moorish and the minarets are classically Arab. Over 3000 workers and 38 subcontractors were hired to complete the construction. Natural materials were chosen for much of the design and the construction due to their long-lasting qualities. Materials included marble stone, semi-precious stones, crystals and ceramics. Artisans and materials came from many countries included India, Italy, Germany, Egypt, Turkey, Morocco, Pakistan, Malaria, Iran, China, United Kingdom, New Zealand, North Macedonia, and the UAE.
Construction began in 1994 and was completed in 2007. The building covers 30 acres, including landscaping and parking lots. The mosque can hold over 40,100 worshippers and is the largest mosque in the UAE. The main prayer hall can hold over 7000. There are two smaller prayer halls that can hold 1,500 each. There are four minarets measuring 107 m/351 ft in height. The courtyard, with its floral design, measures about 17,000 m2 (180,000 sq ft), and is considered to be the largest example of marble mosaic in the world.
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
1096 columns run the length of the outdoor arcades. The six-sided columns are clad with white marble slabs inlaid with an intricate floral pattern of semi-precious stones, including lapis lazuli, Red agate, Mother-of-pearl. The inlay technique of pietra dura was used in handcrafting these columns by skilled craftsmen. See below.
The courtyard, with its floral design, measures about 17,000 m
2 (180,000 sq ft), and is considered to be the largest example of marble mosaic in the world. See above.
The courtyard, with its floral design, measures about 17,000 m2 (180,000 sq ft), and is considered to be the largest example of marble mosaic in the world.
1096 columns run the length of the outdoor arcades. The six-sided columns are clad with white marble slabs inlaid with an intricate floral pattern of semi-precious stones, including lapis lazuli, Red agate, Mother-of-pearl. The inlay technique of pietra dura was used in handcrafting these columns by skilled craftsmen.
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque minarets rise about 106 meters at the four corners of the courtyard. The design reflects the mosque's diversity and inclusiveness. Elements are combined from historical styles and regions. The gold crescent moon on the top is made of glass mosaic and it is a common architectural feature. One of the minaret's original functions was to provide a high place from which the mu'athin (caller of the prayer) could perform Athan.
1096 columns run the length of the outdoor arcades. The six-sided columns are clad with white marble slabs inlaid with an intricate floral pattern of semi-precious stones, including lapis lazuli, Red agate, Mother-of-pearl. The inlay technique of pietra dura was used in handcrafting these columns by skilled craftsmen. See above.
1096 columns run the length of the outdoor arcades. The six-sided columns are clad with white marble slabs inlaid with an intricate floral pattern of semi-precious stones, including lapis lazuli, Red agate, Mother-of-pearl. The inlay technique of pietra dura was used in handcrafting these columns by skilled craftsmen.
1096 columns run the length of the outdoor arcades. The six-sided columns are clad with white marble slabs inlaid with an intricate floral pattern of semi-precious stones, including lapis lazuli, Red agate, Mother-of-pearl. The inlay technique of pietra dura was used in handcrafting these columns by skilled craftsmen. See below.
The foyer entrance's organic floral designs embody a unifying message, reflecting the diversity and
the connection between cultures. The floral patterns were inspired by flowers that grow in the Middle East's desert climate (United Arab Emil S). The North and South foyers are designed with flowers from the Northern hemisphere and Southern hemisphere. Whereas the beautiful colored marbles are brought from over 37 countries. Relief technique was used in the walls to present the flowers in 3D shapes.
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque has seven imported chandeliers from the company Faustig in Munich, Germany that incorporate millions of Swarovski
crystals. The largest chandelier is the second largest known chandelier inside a mosque, the third largest in the world, and has a 10 m (33 ft) diameter and a 15 m (49 ft) height.
Women's Prayer Hall above. The capacity is 1500.
The courtyard, with its floral design, measures about 17,000 m
2 (180,000 sq ft), and is considered to be the largest example of marble mosaic in the world. See above and below,
The courtyard, with its floral design, measures about 17,000 m
2 (180,000 sq ft), and is considered to be the largest example of marble mosaic in the world.
The main prayer hall houses the world's largest hand-knotted carpet by Guinness World Records.
Its design reflects an intricate Islamic medallion and was hand-knotted by approximately 1,200 artisans and took approximately two years. The carpet is 5,400 square meters and weighs 35tons, and is made of about 70% wool and 30% wool and cotton.
The courtyard, with its floral design, measures about 17,000 m
2 (180,000 sq ft), and is considered to be the largest example of marble mosaic in the world.
The 99 names of God/Allah are featured on the Oibla wall in Kufic calligraphy. The Qibla wall also features subtle fibre-optic lighting, which is a part of the organic design.
Outer entrance of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
Inner courtyard with minaret
Interior of the main prayer hall in the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
The courtyard, with its floral design, measures about 17,000 m
2 (180,000 sq ft), and is considered to be the largest example of marble mosaic in the world.
The Qibla wall at the main prayer hall faces the Holy City of Makkah, which
is the prayer direction (Qibla). It is cladded with Aquabianca and Bianco P
marbles from Italy. The design features many five-sided flower shapes, each
containing one of the ninety-nine most beautiful names or qualities of
Allah as; The Merciful, The Gracious, The Patient as they are written using
Kufic calligraphy. At the center of its design is a large circle, and The name
written inside is Allah.
Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Abu Dhabi
Some of the interesting looking buildings in Abu Dhabi.
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