How to Visit Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque: Learn about the mosque’s dress code, visiting hours, and the availability of guided tours. Discover photography tips to capture its stunning architecture and ensure a respectful and memorable visit.
How to Visit Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
When it comes to tourist attractions, Abu Dhabi may not be as well-known as Dubai, but the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is one item you should absolutely visit.
It is enormous and magnificent, as the name suggests, and millions of people visit it each year. It’s a good thing that it genuinely makes me think of the Taj Mahal in India.
This travel guide will tell you all you need to know before you go, including how to get there!
History Of The Grand Mosque
The Grand Mosque bears the name of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan, the man who founded the United Arab Emirates, and was constructed between 1996 and 2007.
It is the largest mosque in the United Arab Emirates and among the largest in the world, and it is situated in Abu Dhabi. A staggering 2 billion dirhams ($545 million USD) were spent on construction.
Many nations, including Germany, India, Iran, Italy, Malaysia, Morocco, New Zealand, Turkey, and the United Kingdom, sent artisans to the United Kingdom.
Isn’t the finished product stunning and amazing?
Visiting The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
It’s quite simple and easy to visit the mosque. At the entry, there is a quick security and X-ray procedure, but it is not too difficult.
If you would prefer not to walk after security, you can take a free golf buggy ride to the front of the mosque (especially if it’s a hot day).
If you prefer receiving explanations while exploring the mosque, you can also avail of a complimentary one-hour guided tour.
Hours & Fees
- Hours (Sat-Thurs): 9 AM – 10 PM
- Hours (Friday): 4:30 PM – 10 PM
- Entrance Fees: Free
Dress Code
Sheik Zayed is a functioning Muslim mosque, and as such, there is a somewhat rigid dress code, particularly for women.
Men must cover their shoulders and knees.
It is mandatory for women to wear headscarves, long sleeves, and long pants.
If needed, you can receive additional clothing to cover up for free in either scenario. I wore shorts that hung below my knees, but one of the other guys in our tour group had to wear a long white robe since his knees were visible.
You will also have to take off your shoes and enter the mosque barefoot.
You won’t have to worry about your toes being uncomfortable because the white marble flooring is pristine and remains cool in the summer heat.
Inside The Mosque
You can enter the main building after exploring the courtyard and surrounding grounds of the mosque. Once more, this is free.
While the interior is all quite ornate and elaborate, there are a few details that truly catch the eye.
Among them is the carpet, the biggest Persian carpet in the world. It is 35 tons heavy and 60,000 square feet (5,600 m2) in size.
The other one is a massive chandelier crafted from thousands of Swarovski crystals imported from Munich, Germany. It’s the third-largest chandelier in the world.
How To Get To The Mosque
• From Abu Dhabi
The Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi lies not far from the city’s heart.
The most convenient way to travel to the mosque from Abu Dhabi is an Uber or Careem cab. That will only be a 20–30 minute ride.
• From Dubai
The travel to the mosque is lengthier from Dubai, taking about 1.5 hours or 130 kilometers (80 miles).
You can take a cab (Careem or Uber) to get there, but the fare will be at least 185 AED ($50 USD) one way. Not exactly inexpensive. Alternatively, you could go from Dubai on a shared bus excursion. will elaborate about bus tours in the following part.
Due to Dubai’s greater tourist attractions and general desirability as a base, it is more likely that most people will stay in Dubai and go to Abu Dhabi from there.
Renting a car and driving to the mosque yourself is an additional alternative because driving in the UAE is rather low key and the roads are decent. However, in certain circumstances, it may be even less expensive to just reserve a shared trip (see the section below)!
Day Tours To Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
I traveled from Dubai to Abu Dhabi using an internet tour that I had reserved through Klook. Moreover, they offer complimentary hotel pickup and drop-off along with a shared bus tour of Abu Dhabi that lasts the entire day, starting from Dubai.
This tour met all of my expectations and more. The tour stops primarily at the Sheikh Zayed Mosque, allowing ample time to explore the entire mosque grounds and other noteworthy locations in Abu Dhabi.
Yes, the tour is shared, but that didn’t bother me because there will be a lot of people around the mosque once you arrive.
The whole tour lasts eight hours. It’s a great deal for a lone traveler!
Best Time To Visit
The morning and evening are the ideal times to visit the mosque because the weather is milder and there are fewer visitors.
This is particularly true in the summer months when temperatures in the United Arab Emirates can soar! In the middle of July, it can get as hot as 42 C (108 F) at midday.
An advantage of going in the evening is that you can linger longer, allowing you to take some interesting and different pictures of the mosque lit up after dark.
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