The Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi is a really beautiful building. It is one of the world’s largest mosques and can hold over 40,000 worshippers! It brings together items and designs from many countries.
The carpet, the largest in the world weighing 35 tons, has wool from New Zealand and Iran. The chandeliers (including the largest in the world) are from Germany and have Austrian crystal. British, Italian, Syrian and Belgian companies were involved in the design and construction. The marble, in many colours, comes from Greece, Macedonia, Italy, China and India. It is definitely a building which uses up all the adjectives such as tremendous, magnificent, impressive, largest, amazing etc.
The main dome is the largest in the world, there are 82 domes altogether, and the overall design is traditional Moroccan. One wall features the 99 attributes of Allah and there are many intricate and beautiful inlaid designs in the marble of the pillars and walls.
As usual, women have to be covered up but I was allowed bare feet which was pleasant on the cool marble. This mosque seems more organised and permissive for outsiders than the Grand Mosque in Muscat with few steps and cool fountains. Both are wonderful buildings and I am glad I have had the opportunity to visit them.