The Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Mosque in in Abu Dhabi was opened as the burial site for Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan in 2007. Al Nahyan was key in the forming of the United Arab Emirates and settling disputes with its neighbor Saudi Arabia. He recruited Japanese architect Katsuhiko Takahashi in the 1960s to plan Abu Dhabi, as the oil fields began to bring income.
This is the largest mosque in the United Arab Emirates, at 420m by 290m. Arab, Mughal and Moorish architecture fuse together with 80 white marble domes and 80 Iznikpanels between 4 minarets, that each rise 115m high. The mosque has the world’s longest carpet and largest chandelier, at 15m. Modern fibre optic lighting is subtly used behind gold leaf walls with Kufi calligraphy. As an image of paradise in the desert, 7,874 m2 of pools surround the site.
Capacity is 40,000 people.
(mattharvey1– flickr/creative commons license)
(jemasmith– flickr/creative commons license)
(jemasmith– flickr/creative commons license)
(jemasmith– flickr/creative commons license)
(jemasmith– flickr/creative commons license)
(Jenny Mackness– flickr/creative commons license)
(Jenny Mackness– flickr/creative commons license)
(Jenny Mackness– flickr/creative commons license)
(Jenny Mackness– flickr/creative commons license)
(Jenny Mackness– flickr/creative commons license)
