Last updated on June 30th, 2023 at 01:39 pm

 After many layovers in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, I finally stepped out of the airport to explore the cities built in the desert. I was prepared to be enamored by the record-breaking skyscrapers in Dubai, but never did I think to be mind blown by a magnificent mosque.  Hence in this blog post, I’ll share 6 important things you need to know before visiting the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and 6 photography tips, and bonus of 5 fun facts about the mosque.

I am very grateful to my friend, who was also my local guide in Dubai, to have convinced me to visit the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi. Beyond visiting the Grand Mosque, there are plenty of other fun places to see in Abu Dhabi. 

PS: There is a whole bunch of Fun Facts about the Grand Mosque at the end of this post as well!

VISITING THE GRAND MOSQUE IN ABU DHABI

Six important things to know before visiting the Grand Mosque –

1. Timings

Open every day, and the visiting hours are below. The last entry to the mosque is at 9.30 pm. Give yourself anywhere from 1-3 hours to visit this mosque, not including the transit time.

• Sat – Thurs 9 am to 10 pm
• Fridays 4.30pm to 10 pm (Friday morning is only open for worshippers coming for prayer ceremony). 

If you are going to visit during the Holy Month of Ramadan, then Abu Dhabi Mosque visiting hours are:  Sat – Thurs 9 am to 2 pm and closed to visitors on Fridays.

TIP: You can take a FREE cultural tour of the grand Abu Dhabi mosque. The tour timings can be found at the official website of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. 

2. Entrance Fee

Admission to the magnificent Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is FREE. There is no reason you should skip this beauty if you have the time.

3. Getting to Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

The Mosque is officially located in Abu Dhabi, UAE which is also the capital of UAE. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque draws hundreds of visitors every day. 

From Dubai: Driving from Dubai to the grand mosque in Abu Dhabi takes about 1:30 hrs. If you do not have a rental car it is easy to get taxis that will drive you up till the Mosque. I also saw a lot of taxis outside the mosque as well so you can get a ride back.

From Abu Dhabi: The mosque is about 20 minutes from Abu Dhabi airport.

4. Dress Code

Like any other mosque, this is a religious and sacred site for all Muslims. Prayer services are held in the hall every day. So be mindful of the etiquette of visiting the grand mosque. Even though I was wearing a full-length shirt and jeans, I was told it was inappropriate since my shirt was made of a translucent material.

Luckily, the mosque gives out a full-length traditional gown called an “Abaya” free of cost to let you enter within their dress code standards. Normally you would get a solid blue-colored Abaya. However, if you are a petite girl like me then they will put you in a really funky animal print like in the photo below unless things have changed.

5. Be Respectful 

I know we all want that perfect photo/selfie especially when the backdrop is this gorgeous. But let’s not forget that this is a working religious institution where people offer their prayers. Be respectful of this fact whether or not you are a religious person.

Trust me, you will be called out by many security guards on premise if you are being obnoxious in your photo taking skills. To be honest, I was scolded for folding the extremely long sleeves of my Abaya at one time and pointing to the mosque with my hands another time. If Rihanna can get kicked out of here for her photos so can you!

6. Food and Drinks

You are not allowed to carry any food or drinks inside the mosque. But there is a refreshment center within the complex where you can purchase drinks and snacks.

There are plenty of other fun things to do in Abu Dhabi, if you have more time then you must totally check them out.

PHOTOGRAPHY IN THE MOSQUE – 6 TIPS FOR GREAT SHOTS

Photography and videos are allowed inside the mosque for personal use only. Usage of a tripod is also allowed within permitted areas. If you are a photography enthusiast like me, then you will highly appreciate the following tips.

1. Timing of Your Visit

The Grand Mosque has two absolutely stunning and different views during the daytime and at night, not to forget the splendid sunset view. Plan your visit to the mosque an hour or more before sunset and stay back till the mosque lights come up.

2. Carry A Tripod

A tripod is allowed on the premises, but certain areas, like the main courtyard, are not allowed for visitors to enter. Use your tripod for nice long exposure shots during sunset and at night.

3. Use a Wide Angle Lens

In order to capture the entire scene of the central domes and the minarets, you are going to need the widest lens in your collection. I usually only take my versatile 18-135mm lens when traveling light and this was one place I really wish I also had my 10-22mm. A workaround if you don’t have a wide angle lens handy is to click multiple shots and stitch the frames in panorama in post-processing.

4. Explore Different Vantage Points

The multitude of domes in the grand mosque definitely stand out but look all around the complex. There are marble corridors with fine details and symmetry surrounding the main hall. Try to capture the corridors from different angles. The reflecting pool near the entrance is an amazing place to get creative with your reflection shots. Look all around you, from the beautiful ceiling work to perhaps an intense blue hour happening right behind.

5. Fine Details Matter

I talked about using wide angle lens before but to change it up, get a little closer to the intricate architectural details. There are plenty of fine designs on the walls, floors, and columns waiting to be captured.

6. Get a Subject in Your Frame

It is even better to bring a subject or a person in this beautiful frame. In my case I had a real friend, if you are traveling solo then the tripod is your best friend to capture yourself! 

 

5 FUN FACTS ABOUT THE GRAND MOSQUE ARCHITECTURE

1. There are 82 total domes of various sizes in the Grand Mosque. The big ones are obviously prominently but good luck counting all 82 of them 😉

2. Millions of tons of pure white marble in Abu Dhabi mosque make it look serene and calm during daylight. But as soon as the sun sets, the unique lighting system at the mosque makes the white domes look magically blue at night. This genius light system is designed to reflect the phases of the moon on the domes. Which means the mosque is lit up to look slightly different every night depending on the moon cycles.

3. Alright, we have marveled enough about the exterior architecture of the mosque. Did anyone notice we never mentioned anything about the interior as yet? As you walk into the prayer hall, you walk over a beautiful green carpet adorning the floor. This is the largest hand-knotted carpet in the world!

4. There are seven 24 carat gold gilded crystal chandeliers inside the prayer hall. Each chandelier is studded with Swarovski crystals and all of these were made in Munich, Germany.

5. The open courtyard in the center of the mosque blooms into a floral design which is made up of several colorful marbles.

So there you go, our 6 tips on visiting and photographing Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi along with 5 bonus fun facts!

I hope this information comes in handy before you head to Dubai or Abu Dhabi 🙂 If you enjoyed reading this post, then do share this post with others 🙂 To pin the post on Pinterest, just hover over any of the photos.

Happy Traveling!