The Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi

While we were visiting the United Arab Emirates we were staying in Downtown Dubai but I have always wanted to visit Abu Dhabi.  I have spent countless hours in Abu Dhabi’s international airport killing time during a layover between connecting flights but I have never ventured outside of the airport.  While we were in Dubai, le bf and I decided to take a day trip to the beautiful city.  Travelling to Abu Dhabi from Dubai requires a 1.5 hour taxi ride which is quite expensive alternatively you can take a 2 hour bus between the cities.  We opted for a bus trip and travelled to Abu Dhabi quite comfortably (I slept the entire bus trip and missed out on all the sites I was later informed).  Once we reached our destination our first stop was the Sheik Zayed Grand Mosque, a place I had been longing to visit for quite some time.

We took a taxi from the bus station in Abu Dhabi to the mosque and we were already in awe as we approach the mosque in the car.  It is such an impressively massive monument that it is easy to understand why it has been named the “grand mosque”.  It dwarfs all others in comparison.  As we left the taxi I was immediately struck by the atmosphere surrounding the mosque.  It is so peaceful and so humbling.  Slowly we decided to wonder around the grounds trying to take it all in.  We fell into complete silence as we took the time to appreciate the exterior.  It was an overcast day but the clouds kept moving and the light kept changing which added to the magical experience we had of visiting the mosque because the vibrant white building reflected so sharply and so brilliantly the entire time.  

As we made our way to the interior of the mosque we stopped to appreciate the floral designs and patterns on the walls and windows.  The mosque is carpeted in green and cream floral patterns too.  We were greeted by the meuzzin’s call to prayer as we entered which just accentuated the sacred traditions we were experiencing.  Outside the mosque we also visited Sheik Zayed’s tomb which is to the right of the mosque.

I would recommend that anyone who is going to be spending some time in the United Arab Emirates add the Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi to your travel itinerary.  Not only is it a beautiful building but the history, culture and tradition that you can learn at the mosque, to me, is wonderful to learn and appreciate.

Travelling tips:

To all those that are planning a trip to the mosque it is important to note that you must be dressed conservatively.  Men must ensure they are wearing a shirt and long pants (jeans are fine).  Women must be covered.  A maxi dress with a cardigan to cover your shoulders and forearms along with a wrap scarf to wear over your head is perfect.  Jeans are also fine for a woman to wear.  I had planned to wear a maxi dress and woke up to a really cold day so I was quite worried about wearing my jeans but it wasn’t a problem at all.  Shoes may not be worn inside of the mosque.  If you are not dressed appropriately you will not be allowed to enter the mosque and will most likely not be allowed to walk around the outside area either.  Remember that this monument may be an attraction but it a place of worship so don’t forget to be respectful in your dress and photo-ops when visiting the mosque.

Have any of you visited the mosque?  I would love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below.  Thank you so much for reading!