Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, an immaculate monumental landmark and a remarkable symbol of the Emirates is sprawled over 12 hectares (30 acres) of Abu Dhabi's western end. Bathed in gilded splendor that magnificently offsets the stark white facade of this mosque, Sheikh Zayed is the zenith of architectural grandeur and art. 82 perfectly rounded domes that dominate the Abu Dhabi skyline are upheld by 1000 columns, while piercing minarets tower high above the rest of the city. A colossal chandelier adorns the ceiling of the main prayer hall, while smaller, gold-paneled decorative fixtures cling to the mosque's lofty roofline. The floors of the prayer hall are swaddled in what is the world's largest loomed carpet, crafted from soft Iranian cotton and the finest wool imported from far New Zealand. The mosque, in the light of day, is a mesh of white and gold that gleams divinely. Come evening, its stunning lighting system mirrors the phases of the moon. Delicate designs painted with rubies, pearls and lapis lazuli trace the marbled walls of the mosque in what appears to be a never-ending swirl of aesthetic superiority. The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is deemed as the largest mosque in the United Arab Emirates, and accommodates as many as 50,000 worshipers.